Channing Tatum in “Roofman.”
Paramount Pictures/Davi Russo
Roofman, a dark crime comedy starring Channing Tatum and Kirsten Dunst, is new in theaters. Is the film winning over Rotten Tomatoes critics?
Rated R, Roofman opens in theaters nationwide on Friday. The official summary for the movie reads, “Based on an unbelievable true story, Roofman follows Jeffrey Manchester (Tatum), a former Army Ranger and struggling father who turns to robbing McDonald’s restaurants by cutting holes in their roofs, earning him the nickname ‘Roofman.’
“After escaping prison, he secretly lives inside a Toys ‘R’ Us for six months, surviving undetected while planning his next move. But when he falls for Leigh (Dunst), a divorced mom drawn to his undeniable charm, his double life begins to unravel, setting off a compelling and suspenseful game of cat and mouse as his past closes in.”
Directed by Derek Cianfrance, Roofman also stars Peter Dinklage, Lakeith Stanfield, Ben Mendelsohn, Juno Temple, Melonie Diaz, Uzo Aduba, Lily Collias and Jimmy O. Yang.
As of Friday, Roofman has earned an 82% “fresh” rating from Rotten Tomatoes critics based on 91 reviews. The RT Critics Consensus reads, “A disarmingly sweet tonal gearshift for director Derek Cianfrance, Roofman is shaggy as a narrative but expertly tailored to Channing Tatum’s strengths as an eminently likable leading man.”
The RT audience summary and Popcornmeter score based on verified user ratings are still pending.
What Are Individual Critics Saying About ‘Roofman’?
Lindsey Bahr of The Associated Press is among the top critics on RT who gives Roofman a “fresh” rating, writing in her review summary, “The film succeeds in doing what it aimed for: Presenting a humane portrait of a guy who will be serving most of his life behind bars, in crowd-pleasing packaging.”
Also giving the film a “fresh” review on RT is Sophie Butcher of Empire Magazine, who writes, “Derek Cianfrance delivers a hugely empathetic, very entertaining depiction of an extraordinary life, featuring one of Channing Tatum’s best performances. Expect laughs, tears, and noughties nostalgia.”
Natalia Winkelman of the New York Times also gives the film a “fresh” review on RT, writing, “Here is a protagonist who clearly straddles the line between right and wrong; the trouble is that in Roofman, that line wobbles, leaving the movie somewhere between a fun-loving caper and a finger-wagging morality tale.”
Kyle Smith of the Wall Street Journal is among the top critics on RT who gives Roofman a “rotten” review, calling the film “A master class in how not to direct a comedy. With its slow pacing, shaky handheld cameras, dishwater cinematography and unnervingly extreme closeups, it feels more like an intense indie drama than a whimsical tale of a robber with a peculiar M.O.”
Odie Henderson of the Boston Globe isn’t a fan of Roofman, either, writing in his RT review summary, “[Channing] Tatum’s sparkling charm can only take him so far; the script, by [Derek] Cianfrance and Kirt Gunn, spends way too much time on a romantic subplot filled with sitcom scenarios and uninteresting characters.”
Kristy Puchko of Mashable also gives the film a “rotten” review on RT, writing, “Roofman is a frustrating watch, refusing to fit into the genre expectations. But that might be precisely the point.”
Roofman opens on Friday in theaters nationwide.