Henry Poole (played by Luke Wilson) has just been diagnosed with a fatal (albeit unnamed) disease.  As the movie opens, he is purchasing a rundown house with no concern for its condition, much to the consternation of his realtor.  He just wants to buy a house and be done.  Restoration efforts are futile since he’s not planning on living there (or anywhere) for very long.  Shortly after moving in, his neighbor Esperanza (played by the charming Adriana Barraza) notices a discoloration in the stucco on the side of his house.  He sees a water stain; she sees the face of Jesus.  Esperanza is a devote Catholic and immediately calls her parish priest, Father Salazar (played by George Lopez).  Even the priest is initially dismissive of the stain/face.  However, once it starts to weep blood and perhaps even heals people, Henry Poole’s house quickly turns into a shrine.

Luke Wilson gives a very subtle performance as the title character.  After discovering that he has little time left, he takes a unique approach; instead of trying to cram a lifetime into a few weeks he essentially gives up on life, waiting to die.  The Bucket List this ain’t.  What could have been maudlin or infuriating actually works very well here.  Wilson displays a vulnerability that in the hands of a lesser actor would have come across as self-pity (even if they didn’t want to).  Wilson’s acquiescence isn’t a temper tantrum; it’s an act of surrender.  He doesn’t know what to do and he doesn’t want to burden others with his situation so he retreats.  There is a thin line between being defeated and being defeatist.  Wilson does a wonderful job walking that line.

The film has a refreshing approach to religion.  Henry’s neighbor Ezperanza is a devout Catholic, but her faith is never played for laughs or mocked.  There is no obligatory subplot about Father Salazar being an alcoholic or a pederast.  He is a kind man that wants to help even if Henry isn’t religious.  And his “help” doesn’t consist of unwanted attempts at conversion.  Salazar doesn’t rush to believe the “miracle”; he calls in science to test it.  It’s a deft approach to religion and a welcome one.  Even when Henry doubts the existence of the miracle, it’s clear that the film is open to the idea of miracles even if this isn’t one.

While the “believers” in the film are Catholic, I wouldn’t really call it a Catholic film.  The movie is pretty egalitarian in that regard.  This isn’t an art-house version of Left Behind.   While some might find the film preachy, it isn’t preaching religion; it’s preaching faith and hope.  They’ll let you fill in the blanks with whatever works for you.  I don’t think this is a movie that will be embraced by critics but discovered by actual people.  I think many reviewers will be disappointed that the movie didn’t devolve into a “rollicking send-up” of people with faith.  They will mistake its tone for evangelism.

Ultimately, your opinion of Henry Poole Is Here will depend largely on your opinion of religion.  While it’s not overtly religious, it deals with spirituality in a way that will be off-putting to some, simplistic to many and refreshing to others.  Henry Poole Is Here is meditation on faith and hope.  It’s a slow paced film but deliberately so.  It says as much with words as it does without.  But the film also has a lighthearted touch and a sense of humor.  There are funny moments in the film but they all derive from the material and the characters.  There aren’t cheap gags shoved into the film in order to get a quick laugh.  The laughs in this film are earned.

I liked it.  Your mileage may vary.

I have no idea what to compare this film to…so, let’s just call it a 7.