Roofman (2025) review

Instead of using his keen tactical abilities for good, former Army reservist Jeffrey Manchester (Channing Tatum) decides to take his skills and rob multiple fast-food restaurants (including McDonald's), is apprehended and sent to prison, escapes and hides inside of a Toys "R" Us where he watches over grumpy store manager Mitch (Peter Dinklage) and falls in love with single mom Leigh (Kirsten Dunst).  As preposterous as this all sounds, it's actually based on true events - the real Manchester is currently incarcerated - and while Tatum is just fine as the lead (he possesses equal amounts of dimwittedness and smartness), Cianfrance doesn't have the lightest touch necessary for the material - he could convert a six-page short story into a 150 minute domestic drama - and the middle section sags a bit more than it should.  Those gripes aside, it has its place in the catalog of movies about American Eccentrics, and a detail that might be lost on many is the fact that Manchester's alias is "John Zorn."  Surely, he wasn't thinking of the famed avant-garde saxophonist/composer?  Maybe not, but film fans might want to listen to those Naked City albums he made.