If you grew up in the 2000s, you probably remember the countless news headlines that felt and often were too wild to be true: Y2K hysteria, the Balloon Boy hoax or Janet Jackson’s infamous Super Bowl halftime malfunction. Among these headlines was that of Jeffrey Manchester, who in his late 20s gained notoriety for the robbing of 45 McDonald's restaurants in North Carolina.
But his story doesn't even end there — in fact, that’s exactly where it begins in Derek Cianfrance’s 2025 retelling titled "Roofman.” Here, the filmmaker follows the events superseding Manchester's robberies up until his final arrest in 2005. It’s a fascinating story, filled with theft, a prison escape and double lives that shrouded Jeffrey's goals with his desires.
After his escape from prison, Manchester (Channing Tatum) juggles life as a modern bushcraft survivalist hiding in the cracks and crevices of a Toys “R” Us while he dreams of becoming a family man for a woman he falls for while on the run.
With a filmography that includes “Blue Valentine” (2010) and “The Place Beyond the Pines” (2012), “Roofman” is a complete directorial shift in tone for Cianfrance. While tackling similar themes in his latest installment — broken families, running from the law and not-so-storybook endings — I expected a film far moodier and a plot that kept my eyes glued to the screen.
What I got was an odd mix between a date and family movie, introduced by a surprisingly exciting and addictive first act.
Within 30 minutes of the film, we see Manchester's descent to crime as a struggling father — his final robbery, a prison escape and his arrival at his new home in a fully-functioning Toys “R” Us. While seemingly a lot of exposition, it all paces incredibly well and I found this first act very entertaining. Cianfrance decides not to linger on any moments here, only paying extra attention to exchanges and vignettes that define Manchester’s character.
Unfortunately, this momentum doesn't last long. “Roofman” changes for the worse after the first act, slowing down tremendously and shifting narrative focus completely. Before, we were following this thrilling game of cat and mouse, driven by the character’s paternal desire to do right by his child. But by this point it’s lost and replaced by Manchester’s pursuit of love in the form of a new family.
The second and third acts contain interesting elements including Manchester’s craftiness when making a toy store livable, his close calls as he struggles to keep his true identity hidden and the flood of early 2000s nostalgia. Not to mention the acting from lead Tatum and co-star Kirsten Dunst. But these highlights arrived too late and couldn’t compare to the captivating first act.
The true story of Manchester spans years, and figuring out what to include and what to forget in a film adaptation can be difficult. Ultimately, I couldn't help but think Cianfrance got lost in these decisions, choosing to tell the whole story rather than the best one. The movie just seemed like it didn't know what it wanted to be, pulling elements of comedy, romance, crime and family drama to shove the film along.
However, while the film progresses slowly and loses its sense of plot, it was still fun to watch and certainly low stress.
So, if you’re scrolling through channels on a lazy night, looking to pass the time and get a trip down 2000s memory lane — you might be satisfied if you throw on “Roofman.”
