It's hard to argue against the idea that “Crime doesn’t pay.” And that sentiment feels even more accurate when you consider it in terms of "Crime doesn’t pay if you’re a good person." That’s one of the things that becomes clear in this comedy-drama based on real events, about Jeffrey Manchester (Channing Tatum), a former soldier who struggled to find his place and make enough money after leaving the military. The story takes place in North Carolina in 2004, and we see this young husband and father deeply worried about not being able to properly support his family. His solution is to turn to crime, using his ability to notice details and take advantage of opportunities. He specifically targets fast food restaurants, breaking into the roofs of these businesses and stealing cash right before they open. He treats the small number of employees who are usually working at that time with politeness and kindness before quietly taking the money. The amount he accumulates grows quickly – until one day he’s caught, convicted, and sent to prison. But this turns out to be a brief setback; he escapes and goes on the run, finding refuge in a Toys ‘R’ Us store. However, his time there ends up being longer than expected, and with so much free time and a natural desire to help others, he unintentionally gets distracted. This makes him vulnerable to discovery and recapture, especially when his helpful nature comes into play. That's particularly true when he develops feelings for Leigh Wainscott (Kirsten Dunst), a friendly but struggling single mother of two who works at the store and is charmed by him, unaware of his past. Will Jeffrey be able to maintain the charade? Or will he be undone by his kind and generous nature? While this story might sound appealing, it’s somewhat inconsistent (and occasionally bland) in how it's presented. For instance, it’s hard to understand how someone so seemingly nice could also be capable of such questionable actions (especially since we never really learn about what led him down that path). The movie also tends to minimize the seriousness of the protagonist’s crimes because of its generally lighthearted tone. And the romantic storyline – no matter how pleasant it might be at times – feels overemphasized in the overall narrative. That being said, there are definitely positive aspects here, particularly in the film's depiction of a criminal hiding out in the whimsical setting of a toy store, which is really where the movie shines and should have been more central. The unusual combination of these elements creates many funny moments, especially when the protagonist has to come up with inventive ways to avoid being found, most notably by the store’s grumpy manager, Mitch (Peter Dinklage). Ultimately, though, while “Roofman” provides a mildly entertaining experience, it would have been better if it had focused more on its strengths and reduced the importance of the less compelling romantic subplot, which tends to slow down the pace and detract from what works best. Writer-director Derek Cianfrance couldn’t quite overcome that issue.

Source on TMDB