Roofman – Film Review

Cast: Channing Tatum, Kirsten Dunst, Peter Dinklage, LaKeith Stanfield, Juno Temple, Ben Mendelsohn

Director: Derek Cianfrance

Synopsis: After breaking out of prison, a former soldier and professional criminal on the run from the police seeks to avoid detection from the police by hiding in a branch of Toys ‘R’ Us…

Review: Upon hearing a film entitled Roofman, you might well think that without any prior knowledge, it would be the latest attempt to capitalise on the popularity of the superhero genre, especially one of the more obscure variety. Yet, this actually does not draw inspiration from the pages of a comic book and is emphatically not about a hero of any description. Incredulously, it is based on the bizarre true story of the escapades of a former soldier turned criminal and a rather ingenious plan he devises to avoid being caught.

It is the late 1990s, and Jeffrey Manchester (Tatum) is a divorced US Army veteran struggling to provide for his three young children. Acting on the advice of his army colleague Steve (an underutilised Stanfield), he uses his powers of observation and ability to take advantage of routines to break into more than three dozen McDonald’s restaurants to steal cash from the safe, giving the morning shift employees the fright of their lives. Earning the nickname of “The Roofman” via the media, he is eventually caught and sent to prison. While locked up, he uses his meticulous eye for routines to escape prison and to avoid detection by the law, choosing to lay low by hiding in a Toys R Us store for months, completely unbeknownst to the store’s employees.

Derek Cianfrance is no stranger to finding humanity in the life of someone who is forced to turn to crime as a means to support individuals he so dearly loves, albeit from a distance. Therefore, Cianfrance and Gunn’s screenplay has a deft balancing act to find a way to sympathise with Manchester, in spite of his criminal antics. Fortunately, when you have an actor as charismatic and as likeable as Tatum is, that is certainly going to do a lot of the heavy lifting. Yet, it is evident that though he resorts to stealing to financially provide for his children, he is not the sort of ruthless criminal who would enter a store all guns blazing with no care for who could get hurt, quite the opposite as he goes out of his way to ensure the employees he encounters are safe and comfortable, shortly before locking them in a walk-in freezer.

The film is certainly at its most enjoyable and gleefully silly when depicting Manchester’s antics in the store. He uses an ingenious way to keep a watchful eye over the store and its employees to ensure that the coast is clear. Furthermore, when he knows he has the entire store all to himself, the antics he gets up to with all the toys in the world at his disposal to play with and living off candy, essentially living any child’s dream. He really is one big kid, and those who grew up in the 1990s and 2000s will certainly get a great big dose of Toys R Us nostalgia.

Never is Jeffrey’s kind heart more evident than when he escapes the confines of his hideout in the store and makes his way into the local community, where he meets and quickly falls in love with Leigh (Dunst). Leight is a working mum with two daughters who recently went through a divorce, and also happens to work at the very same store Manchester is hiding in, and has to deal with an unforgiving boss in Peter Dinklage’s Mitch. Having gotten into his criminal life out of a desire to take care of his kids, it is easy to want to root for him as he tries to make a positive impression on Leigh’s daughters, and the chemistry between Tatum and Dunst is sincere and delightful to watch. Given his status as a wanted fugitive, you know it is not going to be a lasting relationship, but it is easy to root for them and, against all odds, find a way to make it work.

Despite being someone whose heart is in the right place and who strives to be the perfect family man, unfortunately, he is not that. As endearing as Tatum’s performance is, the film is a little too kind to him and completely overlooks the fact that he got himself into his current predicament for a reason. The phrase “don’t do the crime if you can’t do the time” comes to mind. Despite this mishap, Cianfrance brings plenty of humanity, humour and heart to this stranger-than-fiction tale that will make you laugh, smile and also make you wish you could transport yourself back to the 2000s, or back to being a kid again and having that wide-eyed look of wonder on your face when you walk into a toy store. Simpler times.

It could have certainly been much more critical of its leading man’s misdeeds, but thanks to Tatum’s witty and sincere performance and the hilarious shenanigans that ensue, this witty comedy crime caper will cut a hole in the roof of your heart and win you over.

**© Universal Pictures and Marc Platt Productions**

Wicked – Film Review

Cast: Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande-Butera, Jonathan Bailey, Ethan Slater, Bowen Yang, Marissa Bode, Peter Dinklage, Michelle Yeoh, Jeff Goldblum

Director: Jon. M. Chu

Synopsis: A misunderstood young woman forges a friendship with a popular student at Shiz University in the land of Oz…

Review: There is a very good reason The Wizard of Oz is considered a timeless classic and an iconic work of cinema which has stood the test of time. More than three-quarters of a century since Dorothy and her friends travelled down that yellow brick road, its enduring themes of finding your courage and the power of friendship, combined with the memorable music (for which it won two Oscars) and the iconic red footwear adorned by its lead character, contribute to its legacy. It is no surprise that in the years since, there have been numerous expansions to the wonderful world of Oz in various forms, including the 1995 prequel novel “Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West,” which later inspired a musical. A musical that has been seen 65 million times in more than 100 cities in 16 countries. Popular, indeed, but the road from stage to screen can sometimes be tricky to negotiate. Fortunately, in the hands of Jon. M. Chu, the first part of this adaptation truly soars.

Adapting the first act of the musical, Galinda (Grande-Butera) arrives at Shiz University and soon becomes eager to impress the school’s Dean of Sorcery Madame Morrible (Yeoh). There she meets Elphaba (Erivo), the misunderstood daughter of the Governor of Munchkinland. Elphaba has possessed magical abilities from childhood, but is mocked and scorned by society due to her green skin. After the duo are forced to room-share while at university, they forge the most unlikely friendship. This leads them both to visit the Wizard of Oz in the Emerald City before their paths diverge forever into becoming The Good Witch and The Wicked Witch of the West respectively.

When you have had music and lyrics that have enchanted theatre audiences for more than 20 years, it shouldn’t come as a shock that the music composed for the stage by Stephen Schwartz has remained unchanged for the screen. Likewise, for the dialogue, however given this first half is confined solely to the musical’s first act, it allows Winnie Holzman and Dana Fox’s screenplay to devote considerably more time to exploring these characters and fully fleshing out their backstories, particularly Elphaba. Villains can so often be misunderstood souls who are driven to their wickedness by the cruelty and mockery inflicted upon them by others, and Elphaba is one such soul. Disliked by her father since birth, while being kept at arm’s length by her disabled sister Nessarose (Bode), means she is more withdrawn and reserved, but doesn’t allow herself to let the bullies wear her down.

Galinda, by contrast, is the complete opposite of Elphaba. The vainglorious queen of Shiz University, always with a couple of faithful minions in tow and looking to stand out from the crowd, with an excessively pink wardrobe that could give Barbie a serious run for her money. While she initially joins the rest of the students in mocking Elphaba, she eventually becomes sympathetic towards her and strives to improve her popularity among the rest of the university’s students. As well as possessing terrific singing voices, the film’s magic lies in the chemistry between Elphaba and Galinda, and Erivo and Grande deliver magical performances. The latter might not have the most extensive acting resume to her name, but she effortlessly brings Galinda’s vanity to the core, demanding to be the centre of attention at all times. Yet, there is an endearing quality to her that you can’t help but love, particularly in those tender moments between her and Elphaba.

Without a doubt, Erivo and Grande are the stars of the show, though they are wonderfully supported by a quirky cast of characters, including the effortlessly charming Prince Fiyero (Bailey), and the stern yet compassionate Madame Morrible. Yeoh, reuniting with her Crazy Rich Asians director, to wonderful effect. Additionally, no film set in the land of Oz would be complete without the Wizard himself, portrayed perfectly by Jeff Goldblum, who brings his signature quirkiness to the role. Chu is no stranger to musicals, having directed 2015’s Jem and the Holograms and 2021’s In the Heights. Despite the latter’s truly spectacular musical numbers, Chu really steps up to deliver some truly showstopping musical numbers that will have you singing the songs for days and weeks afterwards.

Adapting such a beloved piece of storytelling that has cast a spell and bewitched its way into the hearts and minds of legions of fans was always going to be a tough ask, as adaptations of musicals can often go very very wrong. Yet, Chu has brought to the screen a very timely story about being unafraid of who you’re meant to be, to stick to your guns and not be intimidated in the face of bullies. A magical experience in every sense of the word, and the good news is, this is only the first half. Grab your broomsticks and pointy hats, because we’ll be venturing down the yellow brick road back to Oz again this time next year.