Parents' Guide to Roofman

Based on a crime story so strange that it can only be true, this zingy, funny, entertaining comedy-thriller does a fine job of balancing details and characters, even if it sometimes lags a little. Directed and co-written by Derek Cianfrance, Roofman begins with a heartbreaking scene as Jeffrey tries to throw a birthday party for his daughter. He clearly can't afford the bike she wants, so he gives her his old Erector set (as well as a sad-looking cake) instead. This is the American Dream at its most curdled: A veteran can't find work to support his family.

So when Jeffrey finds his solution, the movie makes us root for him: He's doing this for his family, and he's also really nice to the people he's robbing. (For instance, he gives his coat to a man before locking him in a walk-in freezer.) And the scenes in the toy store are a dream come true for anyone who used to be a kid: Jeffrey has the complete run of the place from nightfall till dawn! His criminal methods are clever, fascinating, and often hilarious, but his relationship with Leigh and her two daughters is equally touching. It's a nice balance of joy and tragedy; it's beautiful, but it can never last. Roofman runs a longish 126 minutes and certainly could have been tightened a bit around the corners. And the inclusion of some real-life news footage and interviews during the closing credits is an overly familiar ploy used to add extra poignancy and weight to the story. But, for the most part, this is a most satisfying and affecting experience.