‘Roofman’ (dir. Derek Cianfrance) Review: Channing Tatum Reaches for Depth in Uneven ‘Roofman’

BY NATE DAY

I’m not terribly familiar with the work of Derek Cianfrance, call it a cinephile blind spot, but I greatly enjoyed ‘Blue Valentine’ (as much as anyone can enjoy having their heart ripped out and stamped on), so I was very excited to see ‘Roofman.’

The movie, based on a true story, follows Jeff, a man who turned to robbery to support his fracturing family. Jeff escapes prison and hides out for several months in a Toys-R-Us, living in the walls of the bike display by day, and wooing a store employee by night.

‘Blue Valentine’ hit me with the same emotional wallop that most viewers walk away with, so I was expecting something similar here. While I really enjoyed the perspective into the loving and compassionate life of a so-called criminal, I felt slightly underwhelmed with the movie overall.

This is certainly Cianfrance’s most commercial film – a real-life dramedy starring Channing Tatum – which is probably why some of the film’s technical aspects felt flat to me. The camera wasn’t doing very much that was exciting (most shots were static and left me bored), costumes and production design were fairly plain (although for a story set in Charlotte, NC in the 1990’s, that’s accurate), and there were even moments when the sound mixing got on my nerves (again, that may have been for dramatic effect, but when it creates a lesser viewing experience, does that matter?).

I also found Tatum to be a bit out of his depth here. He shines a handful of times in the movie (particularly when he’s alone), but I found most of his jokes to fall flat or be somewhat trite in their delivery. He wasn’t helped by a script that relied on the audience being wowed by its protagonist’s actions either, but in 2025, is a man-on-the-run living in a toy store really that astounding?

‘Roofman’ also, strangely, has a very stacked supporting cast. The movie boasts Kirsten Dunst, Peter Dinklage (again, a usually talented actor in a role that doesn’t quite service him), LaKeith Stanfield, Ben Mendelsohn, Uzo Aduba and Juno Temple. For those keeping track, that’s two Oscar nominations and eight Emmy wins (and 15 additional nominations) – all to back up… Channing Tatum? I’m puzzled by what attracted these actors to roles that are so small and often inconsequential to the story overall – was it the chance to work with Cianfrance?

Dunst, as usual, delivers a jaw-dropping performance as Leigh. Part of why Tatum’s performance occasionally appears dull is that it’s hard to be anything but brass when you’re standing next to glittering gold. One scene in particular, when Dunst is piecing together the puzzle that her life has been mid-mass, puts her talents on full display. She communicates so many layers of emotion – confusion, pain, understanding, empathy – with just her eyes, as the rest of her is busy singing in the choir. Additionally, her chemistry with Tatum is palpable throughout, which does a lot to lift him up.

Although I’ve pointed out a handful of flaws here, I want to be clear, this is still a really enjoyable movie! It’s tender and heartwarming and it’s a story that really did deserve the Hollywood treatment, so you can expect to have a good time with this one – especially if the nuances I mentioned above don’t usually bother you when you watch a film.

‘Roofman’ may not soar to the heights of ‘Blue Valentine,’ but I’ll always appreciate an insightful and tender peek into Americana, especially ones that hold a mirror up to its audience.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐1/2 + 🧡