Channing Tatum’s Roofman Isn’t the Movie the Trailers Sell (It’s Better)

This article contains Spoilers For “Roofman”.

The important thing to remember about trailers and other marketing materials is that they do not reflect the actual quality of the movie. Distributors have to promote their titles in a way that reaches the widest possible audience, and “Roofman” is a perfect example of how a by-the-numbers campaign can hide one of the year’s greatest surprises. The new film, directed by Derek Cianfrance, is based on the crazy true story of Jeffrey Manchester (Channing Tatum), a former US Army soldier who became known as the Rooftop Thief after breaking into restaurants like McDonald’s from above. After escaping from prison, Jeffrey set up a secret little corner for himself at a Toys “R” Us store for several months, without the knowledge of the employees. The trailers reflect this angle of the story by presenting the film as a wild crime comedy. Even the posters emphasize Tatum playing with childish luxuries at the store. Similar to the secretly brilliant “Battle after Battle” marketing campaign, It provides an easy out for casual moviegoers, only to hit them with a more emotionally nuanced film.

“Roofman” isn’t quite as bleak as Cianfrance’s other works, like “Blue Valentine.” And “The Place Beyond the Pines.” In fact, it can be quite funny sometimes. But I wouldn’t really classify this as a comedy. It’s a poignant and deeply sad drama about the systemic factors that keep a good-hearted criminal trapped in a cycle of self-destruction. Tatum gives the best performance of his career here, making you root for Jeffrey (under the alias John Zorn) even as he continues to make decisions that exacerbate his predicament. We watch him lose access to his three young children before he can get to Toys “R” Us.

Tatum is truly exceptional in “Roofman,” where we fully understand Jeffrey’s process of staying on his toes. He is an incredibly intelligent and charming man who is able to tap into things that no one else can see and make his moves accordingly. The whole “big kid in the toy store” approach offers a tinge of hope when Jeffrey begins to fall for Lee Wainscott (Kirsten Dunst), a Toys “R” Us employee who must juggle her professional duties while being a single mother with hardly any time to spend with her kids. Dunst gives an equally warm and heartbreaking performance as Tatum. This is a character who could easily have come off as an easy caricature, given that she’s also an ardent churchgoer who runs a charity toy drive, but Dunst provides such an emotional foundation for her.

The central relationship between Lee and Jeffrey is much more damaged when you view it through the fatal outcome it is naturally destined to reach. The screenplay, penned by Cianfrance and Kurt Gunn, skillfully channels an impenetrable sadness that is ever-present during their courtship. There’s a moment between Tatum and Dunst in church that makes me feel better just thinking about it.

“Roofman” was shot by cinematographer Andrej Parekh on 35mm film, so the film not only retains Cianfrance’s trademark naturalism, but it looks great, too. I have nothing against digital photography, but it’s always encouraging to see film from a major studio with real texture on the actors’ faces. All of these effective long shots illustrate Jeffrey’s paranoia. The film’s photography also lends additional weight to the early 2000s period and many of the recognizable brands within it.

It is almost impossible to tell this story without directly acknowledging the corporate entities that the real Jeffrey broke into. He’s hit everything from KFC to Burger Kings. The “Roofman” crew was careful about what these places would look like if they were recovered from a time capsule in 2004, which helps sell their authenticity. The deeper Jeffrey delves into Lee’s life and into the welcoming community, the more his nostalgic Toys “R” Us crash pad becomes a prison by any other name.

One of the saddest moments in “Roofman” occurs during Jeffrey’s court hearing for the McDonald’s robbery, where he is sentenced to 45 years in prison, despite his kindness and non-violent actions. He became a completely different prisoner of these companies. Jeffrey is stuck in a vicious cycle of always trying to buy/give away items from the brands he loots as a way to get closer to the Wainscott family, when he deems his own presence more than enough. Even the robbery that happened inside Toys “R” Us was really sad and disturbing. That comedic beat in the trailer for Peter Dinklage’s Mitch getting blown up in the face with a dye packet isn’t very funny in context.

Although “Roofman” will make you laugh, it never loses sight of the heart and tragedy centered around the person who played his hand as best he could with the cards he was dealt. It is without a doubt one of the best years yet.

“Roofman” is now showing in theaters nationwide.