Well, this was a wee bit surprising. I opted to see Roofman for a variety of reasons, but for other reasons I will not get into, I got to the movie maybe two minutes after the scheduled start of the movie. I would have thought it wasn’t a problem because, you know, there are trailers. But then I got there and realized the movie had already started. I didn’t miss much, but what the hey? I actually stayed after the movie to ask at the desk if there were supposed to be trailers before the movie, and the guy said that, for some reason, not before that movie at that time. Is that true? Beats me. I didn’t care that much. I still saw 98% of the movie. It was just a surprise.
I probably should have asked if that happens more often. I’d rather not miss stuff.
Jerry Manchester (Channing Tatum) is a very observant man, useful for his time in the U.S. Army, but not so useful as a civilian. He might be able to make money to get in good with his ex-wife, maybe see his three kids more often, but his buddy Steve (LaKeith Stanfield) doesn’t think Jerry has the sort of personality to really commit a crime: he’s too nice. As it is, Jerry notices that fast food restaurants have a certain way of doing things, and he robs a number of them at night, going through the roof as the “roofman” before he’s arrested and sent to prison under a particularly harsh sentence when the judge adds charges to get a man he”s convinced is dangerous off the streets.
As it is, Jerry’s observation skills soon show him how to escape the prison, and needing a place to hide for a few months, chooses a Toys’R’Us, and soon sets up a nice system to get whatever he needs while watching the comings and goings, particularly jerk manager Mitch (Peter Dinklage) and divorced mom/new employee Leigh (Kirsten Dunst). Jerry decides to do something for Leigh’s church’s toy drive. That leads to an assumed name, a romance with Leigh, and maybe a path to happiness. Of course, Jerry is still a wanted man, and he probably shouldn’t be getting involved with anyone if he wants to get away from all this. But he is still committing crimes, and he hasn’t quite figured out he can’t buy love with physical gifts and money, especially if he gets it dishonestly.
I had gone into the movie expecting a broader comedy, and while there are a number of genuinely funny moments, I think the movie works better as something of a drama, and Tatum is good in both a dramatic and comedic moments, so that works just fine. Yeah, the trailers leaned heavily on the comedy, and there is some good laughs to be had, but I didn’t think it was as comedic as the trailer suggested. That’s fine. I had a good time with this one anyway, particularly with a talented supporting cast and a likable protagonist who, the movie never lets you forget, is a criminal even if he’s basically a nice guy who doesn’t want to hurt anyone.
In a lesser movie, a character like that might be as much a hindrance as anything else, but it works in Roofman, especially as played by Tatum. Jerry is a charming guy who doesn’t seem like he wants to hurt anyone, so during those occasions that he does, it’s particularly and appropriately jarring. The movie never lets him off the hook no matter how nice he is, and I think that’s the right way to go here. It’s not going on anyone’s best-of-the-year lists, I would suspect, but it is a charming enough time at the movies.
Grade: B+
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