Message of "Henry Poole Is Here" is none too subtle

Movie review

Hollywood's 1944 epic about Lourdes, "The Song of Bernadette," begins with a prologue: "For those who believe in God, no explanation is necessary. For those who do not believe in God, no explanation is possible."

A contemporary story of faith and miracles, "Henry Poole Is Here" puts itself firmly within the "belief" column before it's 30 minutes old. It thereby sacrifices most opportunities for mystery, drama, suspense and surprise — all of which "The Song of Bernadette" had in abundance.

The title character, played with a hangdog expression by Luke Wilson, is sad and angry about something. He pays too much for a house, he keeps telling people he won't be around for long and he overreacts to a lonely neighbor who claims to see the face of Jesus on Henry's newly painted walls.

The neighbor, played by Adriana Barraza (an Oscar nominee for her work as the housekeeper in "Babel"), drags her priest into Henry's backyard to validate the sighting, but even he's a little skeptical.

The neighbor, however, won't give up, and eventually a single mother and a store clerk (named Patience) begins to see the positive side of her fixation.

How long will it take for Henry to tumble? If you're checking your watch, it can seem like hours, especially whenever the director, Mark Pellington, lets Barraza off her leash.

She tries to bring some warmth to an annoying character, but her widescreen close-ups become monotonous. There's almost no sense of what these characters do for a living, or what occupies them when they're not involved in a religious event.

Pellington's previous films include a couple of thrillers that have become cult items: the tricky conspiracy tale "Arlington Road" (1999) and the silly, paranormal drama "The Mothman Prophecies" (2002).

This time he's saddled with a preachy script by Albert Torres that keeps repeating the obvious. Mostly missing are the whimsical touches that lightened such faith-based fantasies as "Field of Dreams" and "Lars and the Real Girl."

The filmmakers announce their intentions so quickly and so baldly that there's really no reason for the movie to exist. If you're going to send a message, as more than one legendary Hollywood mogul is said to have declared, try Western Union.

John Hartl: johnhartl@yahoo.com