Roofman (2025) Review

Based on the true story of Jeffery Manchester a criminal who breaks out of prison and while on the run from the police hides in a Toys R Us store, adopting a new identity and trying to start a new life despite the risks.

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The best aspect of this film was reminding yourself it was based on a true story / true events, the craziness that Jeff had himself living inside the Toys R Us and how he had made it into a place to live. We are shown his downward spiral before this though in how he had messed up the life he had with his family, the three kids he let down after trying to provide for them.

His way to do that was actually being the roof man, who would break into different places, mainly McDonald’s as the layouts were all pretty much the same and where the cash was stored. Obviously he could only manage to get away with this for so long, and when one of his raids goes wrong and he goes to prison for his crimes.

Jeff was never going to just accept his fate and uses his skills to plan that escape from prison, really organising it very well. This is when we see him in that Toys R Us store, setting up his place to live and hide until they stop looking for him, given the time period it was probably easier to be able to do that back then. Even though he did have to change the CCTV so he wasn’t easily spotted. His biggest mistake was pursuing the relationship with Leigh, after pretty much stalking her while at work.

The thing that really made this film such an entertaining watch was Channing Tatum and the ultimate charisma he brought to the role. He made it very amusing, and actually added that we were concerned about him getting caught. I found that to be such a strange aspect as come on he was still a terrible criminal!