It’s not often you find yourself rooting for a criminal, but that’s where you may find yourself as you get lost in the story of ROOFMAN, now playing in theaters.

Starring Channing Tatum in his best outing yet as Jeffrey Manchester, the real-life cat burglar responsible for stealing thousands of dollars from fast food restaurants in elaborate schemes cutting holes in roofs and politely escorting employees into walk-in refrigerators. Seriously, interviews with his victims all state just how overly polite this guy was. And honestly, it’s refreshing.

At the crux of Manchester’s story is a military background that let him down and left him desperate to support his growing young family. Without much in the way of financial support after serving he found himself using his skills of observation to provide the best life possible for his little girl and two toddler sons.

He’s eventually picked up by police and sent to jail – a place he may never see his family again. But, since Manchester is not short on cleverness, he finds a way out and goes on the run – living inside the bike rack of a very open-for-business Toys R Us – while planning his next move.

Tatum shines in this film as the likable and charming Manchester. And he turns up that charm on Kirsten Dunst’s character Leigh, the real-life love interest that causes Manchester to eventually let love overtake other priorities.

The film was shot entirely on location in Charlotte, NC in a very real abandoned Toys R Us store brought back to life with help of the reborn retailer. The story takes place in the early 2000’s, in the age of flip phones and big box retailers dotting the landscape.

Producers even rented an abandoned Burger King that the real Jeffrey Manchester robbed and converted it into a McDonald’s for one of the film’s establishing scenes. The production designer went above and beyond to infuse reality at every turn, keeping this film feeling more like a documentary at times rather than a dramatization of events… however, there have been some liberties taken.

From start to finish, I enjoyed Tatum’s genuine performance as an all-American type just trying to provide for his family when the government left him behind. I think that’s a sentiment many can identify with in today’s world. Dunst was emotionally available as Leigh, a newly single mom hopelessly falling for Manchester… a man that’s too good to be true.

Then there’s Mitch, the hard-edged manager of the Toys R Us played by Peter Dinklage. He’s the spoil of the film – the one who eventually catches Manchester in the act of bathing in the store’s restroom – catching Tatum’s “Full Monty” in a way we hadn’t seen on the big screen before. My favorite part of this scene was how awkwardly long Tatum is on screen fully nude, clamoring to get back into his hiding space behind the bikes… on full display for the audience. It’s just long enough to be the most hilarious scene in the film.

Through all of this, the only loyal friend Manchester has is his former Army buddy Steve portrayed by the always-reliable LaKeith Stanfield who helps him hide from the fuzz and provides one of Manchester’s only ways out. Steve is the kind of friend who will help you hide the body and eliminate all evidence… but he’s also the friend you should always listen to yet never do.

Ben Mendelsohn and Uzo Aduba round out the cast at a church that Leigh introduces Manchester to. Juno Temple also delights as Steve’s crime-accomplice girlfriend.

Overall, I really enjoyed ROOFMAN and I feel compelled to look up the real story of Jeffrey Manchester because it sounds like his life has been full of action with few regrets as he always seemed to put others first in his life. May we all be so fearless.

(Photos Courtesy Paramount Pictures)