Roofman arrives at the London Film Festival with a gripping and grounded premise: the story of a man who turns to climbing rooftops and slipping into homes not out of malice, but out of desperation — a struggling provider trying to hold his life together while making increasingly risky choices. It’s a drama about guilt, survival, and the emotional strain of wanting to do right while constantly doing wrong.
Channing Tatum is the beating heart of the film, delivering what may be the strongest performance of his career. He’s instantly relatable, drawing you into his frustrations, fears, and moments of vulnerability. There’s a childlike softness to his character that makes you root for him even when he’s at his worst. It’s the kind of performance that deserves awards attention and shows just how well he handles full dramatic weight.
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| Paramount Pictures |
Kirsten Dunst is excellent opposite him. Their relationship is one of the film’s highlights — warm, believable, and genuinely heartwarming at times — yet it also manages to frustrate you. They bring out the best and worst in each other, and that tension gives the film much of its emotional bite. Dunst plays her role with a sharpness that gets under your skin in exactly the way it’s meant to.
The film handles its dramatic beats well, though it does stumble slightly with tonal shifts. The jumps between comedy and heavy drama can feel abrupt, and a steadier balance would have made certain scenes land more cleanly. Visually, it’s solid, but a richer colour palette and a bit more variety in the cinematography could have elevated the mood. For a grounded drama, it still works — it just feels like it had room to go further.
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| Paramount Pictures |
Lakeith Stanfield brings depth in the scenes he’s given, though he’s noticeably underused. His presence adds texture, but you’re left wishing the film tapped into more of his range.
Ultimately, Roofman is a moving, relatable story that will resonate with anyone who understands the pressure of being a provider and trying to hold everything together. Tatum’s character may be a criminal, but he’s never portrayed as malicious — just a man who’s lost and trying his best in the worst ways. Tatum channels both the charm of his comedic past and the weight of real emotional struggle, making his performance unforgettable.
A heartfelt, frustrating, and deeply human drama led by a career-best Tatum.
Rating: ★★★★☆ (4/5)
Watch the Trailer Below: