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Channing Tatum and Kirsten Dunst’s chemistry sweetens a romance tinted with melancholy in this fun, true-crime caper.
It’s based on the real tale of Jeffrey Manchester (Tatum), an ex-military father who can’t quite find his place in the world. His army buddy Steve (Lakeith Stanfield) reminds him of his skill for observation, urging him to put it to good use. Instead, he decides to use it to rob not one but 45 McDonald’s, enough to give his family the life they deserve. The real stranger-than-fiction part is the ingenious way he escaped from the correctional facility and managed to live undetected for months in the hidden spaces of a Toys “R” Us.
He first hides in the roof, before making his way down and holing up in an unseen section of the store, snacking on M&Ms and spying on the staff (headed up by Peter Dinklage). One of them is Leigh (Dunst), a single mother he can’t stop himself from helping, a slippery slope that sees him craft a fake identity, getting himself into deeper and deeper trouble. Roofman is both funny and affecting. Don’t miss.