The Reel Review
After escaping from prison, career burglar Jeff Manchester, famous for the rooftop break-ins of dozens of fast-food restaurants in North Carolina, secretly hides out inside a Toys ‘R Us, falling in love with a store employee while avoiding capture by the police for six months. Channing Tatum, Kirsten Dunst and Peter Dinklage star in this romcom/crime caper based on an incredible true story.
Tatum is the perfect actor for this role, his genial personality making him a criminal you want to root for, at least initially. Dunst is also terrific as a Toys ‘R Us employee/love interest. But while director Derek Cianfrance (Blue Valentine) is largely faithful to the details of the actual story, he seems conflicted whether he’s making a portrait of a really likable thief or a low stakes love story.
While the more low stakes romcom route makes for a sweet, pleasant enough viewing on a rainy day, there just isn’t much of a compelling story. Make sure to stay for the closing credits to hear from several of the actual people portrayed in the film.
REEL FACTS
• Roofman’s production team created a replica of the Toys ‘R Us store, even procuring toys from the early 2000s for added authenticity. Toys ‘R Us went out of business in 2018.
• When Toys ‘R Us got busier around the 2004 Christmas holiday season, Jeff Manchester moved down the street into an abandoned Circuit City store, creating a home for himself under a stairwell.
• Roofman writer/director Derek Cianfrance was nominated for a Best Original Screenplay Oscar for 2020’s Sound of Metal.
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