Roofman

mrknowitall 11/8/2025 11:48:26PM 8.4

Read full review on Substack: https://open.substack.com/pub/mrknowitall/p/roofman-late-watch-review?r=3o4n7&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true You’d be forgiven for thinking Roofman is a straight-up comedy. The trailer sells it like a goofy, high-energy Channing Tatum caper, but the movie itself has a very different heartbeat. What starts out looking like a lighthearted crime comedy slowly reveals something more grounded, more emotional, and far more human. Director Derek Cianfrance (of Blue Valentine fame) uses humor as the bait and heartache as the hook. Once you realize what kind of movie you’re actually watching, the tone shift hits hard—in the best way. It’s still funny, often charmingly so, but it’s also unexpectedly sincere, filled with character moments that linger. Channing Tatum gives one of his most balanced performances yet, mixing his usual effortless charisma with real vulnerability. Kirsten Dunst, Peter Dinklage, and a surprisingly deep supporting cast round things out beautifully. Roofman isn’t the crowd-pleasing comedy the marketing promised, but it might just be something better: a heartfelt story about second chances, connection, and the mess we make trying to hold onto both. Know-It-All Index: 8/10 Read the full review now on Substack to see why this late-watch surprised me in all the right ways.

Manuel São Bento 10/15/2025 6:57:19PM 8.4

FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://talkingfilms.net/roofman-review-a-hilarious-heartfelt-look-at-crime-and-redemption-on-the-rooftop/ "Roofman is an absolutely hilarious piece of entertainment for a broad audience, but it stands out for its ability to intertwine the unusual nature of a true story with a profound reflection on the human condition. Through the excellent performances of Channing Tatum and Kirsten Dunst — a duo whose chemistry surprises and enriches Jeffrey's journey for redemption and Leigh's quest to repair her home — the movie transcends simple situational comedy. It addresses, with sensitivity and boldness, the duality between illicit acts and the benign motivations that drive them, forcing us to question our own value system and how society defines virtue. It's a testament that even in the most unlikely and criminal circumstances, the search for affectionate connections and a worthy purpose is universal and undeniable." Rating: B+

CinemaSerf 11/6/2025 6:56:24PM 8.4

Channing Tatum manages his own brief homage to “Risky Business” (1983) in this story of a robber who gets apprehended after raiding his umpteenth McDonalds to pay for a nice house in which he can entertain his now divorced wife and young daughter. Sentenced to spend pretty much the rest of his life behind bars, he concocts quite a clever wheeze to escape and then an even smarter one that sees him hide out in a local toy superstore managed by “Mitch” (Peter Dinklage). Now fortunately, this guy isn’t so hot on stock control and so “Jeffrey” is able to disable the security system and pretty much pig out on chocolates for weeks on end. Of course, this all goes a little too smoothly, he gets a bit bored and is soon tempted by the lights of the outside world. After overhearing a bah-humbug conversation in the manager’s office, he takes some “borrowed” toys to a local church for it’s sale and encounters “Leigh” (Kirsten Dunst) who works in the store, is trying to bring up two daughters and struggling to make ends meet. Quickly his trips out become more regular and their friendship blossoms, but he still hasn’t any money. How to solve that problem risks everything, but can he pull it off? Tatum is on good form here and the fact that much of this is based on events that really happened adds a bit of richness to a story that occasionally beggars belief, has a little of the “Robin Hood” to it and presents us with a criminal who is largely likeable enough for most of this amiable love story. Dunst also works quite well and there’s some simple, unsophisticated, comedy throughout this film. It is far too long, though, and we could easily lose twenty minutes from the front and maybe explain a little more at the rushed conclusion, but it’s still quite a fun couple of hours of entertainment.