Roofman is the thrilling dramatization of the story of Jeffery Manchester. In the late nineties Manchester robbed a series of fast food restaurants and had a fantastical escape and evasion story. Manchester was convicted of two of these robberies and sentenced to 45 years in prison before escaping four years later. It is this first escape that the movie is primarily about. After hiding in a truck’s undercarriage, Manchester hitchhiked back to his home town.
Once there he hid in a Toys “R” Us for a number of months. During this time Manchester survived off baby food and candy. Kept himself entertained by playing video games and watching movies. During the day he integrated himself into the community even going as far as dating a local woman. This woman, Leigh Wainscott, who is played by Kirsten Dunst, believed Manchester to be a government agent. Because he was an agent he had to be secretive about his life. Hiding both his home and his work.
A Good Movie!
This movie displays Manchester, played by Channing Tatum, as a sympathetic and friendly robber. A man who simply makes the best of the bad situation he finds himself in. Forced into a life of crime by the expectations of those around. All while he tries to find his place in the world. Real life accounts of Manchester claim he was polite and courteous during his robberies. But who can say what kind of a person he was outside of his crimes.
This movie is a delightful drama. It manages to entertain with a mix of high tension and drama with sweet romcom moments thrown in. Channing Tatum delivers a charming if intense performance. Kirsten Dunst to her credit is lovely and portrays a wide range of emotions. Doing her best with the lines she has to work with.
During the runtime of the film its pacing moves such that the viewer is never left in an awkward scene. Either as a blessing or a curse, having to tell so much story in two hours gives the audience enough time to feel these characters evolve. But, not such that we get dragged into the day to day of a life on the lam.
How Truthful Is the Movie?
There were several differences between the events of the movie and the actual events. Some more minor differences like the exact details of the crime, capture, and sentencing can be overlooked. It is simpler in a movie format to put all the crimes together than to show the two year span they actually happened over. Additionally the judges lines in the movie are funnier than anything I can imagine a real judge saying. Bigger differences can be found and are frankly more interesting. Namely that Manchester did not actually hide in the Toys “R” Us that whole time. While he was not around, employees of the Toys “R” Us found his hideout. Manchester at this time had actually abandoned his Toys “R” Us home for a neighboring Circuit City.
Additionally, Wainscott did not work at the Toys “R” Us as portrayed in the film. This takes away many of the feel good scenes that put the audience on the side of Manchester as he stealthily manipulates behind the scenes to help Wainscott with her troublesome boss. That said, the real Manchester did manipulate employee schedules in order to make it easier for him to come and go as he pleased. Along that same line there was no toy drive that brought Manchester to the church where he met Wainscott. In fact there is no other reason than boredom and proximity that seems to have brought the two together. Seems like the biggest deviations the film takes with the actual story have to do with making Manchester a more sympathetic character.
Final Words
Overall this movie is a cute and fun dramatization of the actual events. A perfectly good time but earning as much attention and time as the real life story from which it draws inspiration. It seems odd to me to make such an emotionally resonating story about a man who is still alive and still serving out his sentence. However, both Manchester and Wainscott reportedly consulted on the film so perhaps the purpose behind it was to draw sympathy to Manchester before his next parole hearing.
