Pop Commentary

I think I would’ve liked “Roofman” more if it leaned harder into the comedy and let the main character’s hijinks take center stage.

The film follows an Army veteran and struggling father who resorts to robbing McDonald’s to support his family. After escaping prison, he hides out in a Toys “R” Us, where a budding romance threatens to expose his double life and sets off a tense game of cat and mouse as his past closes in.

It definitely gives “Catch Me If You Can” vibes. Both are based on true events and center on a charismatic outlaw dodging the law. And honestly, this is one of Channing Tatum’s best performances.

My favorite moments were his sneaky, slapstick-adjacent antics inside the toy store. I kept wishing the movie played those beats up more. There’s also a surprisingly stacked cast in small roles. Peter Dinklage, LaKeith Stanfield, and Uzo Aduba all pop in.

I also liked watching the relationship between Channing’s character and Kirsten Dunst’s family evolve. Knowing it was all built on a lie added a constant tension, and I was just waiting for everything to go left.

But overall, I wanted it to be funnier. The marketing sells it like a comedy, but the movie plays much more like a drama. At just over two hours, it also feels long. Some of the romantic scenes could’ve been trimmed to tighten up the second half.

If you’re interested in watching “Roofman,” I’d recommend waiting to stream it at home, where you can multitask during the slower stretches.

If you’ve seen “Roofman,” let me know your thoughts in the comments and don’t forget to subscribe to Pop Commentary for more film and TV reviews!