Henry Poole is Here was inspirational, funny, and unique film. It was darker than the typical Luke Wilson movie—as opposed to Legally Blond and other films in which Wilson played characters much more naïve and lucky than Henry Poole. After a hard childhood and terminal medical diagnosis, Henry buys a home in a middle class suburb of Los Angeles where his nosy neighbor Esperanza believes a spot on the wall of Poole’s home shows the face of Christ. Soon, hoards of people are visiting Poole’s backyard, along with, Father Salazar (played by George Lopez).
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Henry Poole was an indie film that garnered a lot of attention due to its spiritual message—though nevertheless went on to receive a limited US release following its showing at Sundance.
Critics were split on reactions to the film, but Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times was one who gave it a great review including 3.5 out of 4 stars and said that the movie “achieves something that is uncommonly difficult. It is a spiritual movie with the power to emotionally touch believers, agnostics and atheists – in that descending order, I suspect. It doesn’t say that religious beliefs are real. It simply says that belief is real. And it’s a warm-hearted love story . . . I fell for it.”
Other notes:
- The Henry Poole is Here soundtrack also received attention due to tracks like “Love of the Loveless” by the Eels.
- In this movie, Wilson showed that he can play dark characters who are not at all naïve like the infamous Mitch Martin from the Old School movie.
- This role was somewhat uncharacteristic of Wilson’s, though he has experimented with various roles, including Officer Delinko in the children’s movie Hoot, smalltime criminal in the Wendell Baker Story, and character David Fox in the thriller Vacancy. (The Vacancy DVD also features Kate Beckinsale and was released in 2007).
