Roofman is a quietly ambitious film, beautifully shot (on 35 mm by Andrij Parekh) with a restrained visual style that rarely calls attention to itself. In it’s form, it is technically solid, though seldom ambitious in its cinematography. The film strikes a balance between warmth and quirkiness, even if it never quite pushes the boundaries of visual storytelling.
The musical score, composed by Christopher Bear, complements the tone with subtlety rather than flourish. Bear (whose credits include Past Lives and Blue Valentine) brings a gentle emotional undercurrent to the story, underscoring character moments without overwhelming them.
In a supporting turn that steals moments, Peter Dinklage (best known for his portrayal of Tyrion Lannister in Game of Thrones) plays the Toys “R” Us manager Mitch with a fierce, precise energy. His presence gives the film a grounded friction, reminding the viewer that this world, though odd, is still inhabited by characters with real stakes.
Channing Tatum and Kirsten Dunst anchor the film with empathy and chemistry, though at times the script leans too heavily on charm and underplays moral complexity. But the story works best when its performances breathe life into its strange, true-crime premise: a man hiding inside a toy store, robbing McDonald’s through roofs, all in the name of family and survival.
Roofman isn’t perfect. It’s occasionally too neat in its narrative arcs and avoids darker ambiguity it might have explored. But it succeeds in large part because of its cast, its tonal consistency, and the way it humanizes an unlikely story.
Roofman opens nationwide October 10th.
