Henry Poole Was Here Review
by Steve Rhodes (steve DOT rhodes AT internetreviews DOT com)August 15th, 2008
HENRY POOLE IS HERE
A film review by Steve Rhodes
Copyright 2008 Steve Rhodes
RATING (0 TO ****): **
HENRY POOLE IS HERE is admittedly better than the previous stinkers by director Mark Pellington (THE MOTHMAN PROPHECIES and ARLINGTON ROAD), but that isn't saying much. Perhaps a better compliment for HENRY POOLE IS HERE is that it's a harmless little film based on a slender premise -- a cynic discovers a water stain on his house that others believe provides healing powers. It's a one-idea movie, and first-time screenwriter Albert Torres isn't able to find much to do with the plot other than continue to restate the obvious. Henry Poole (Luke Wilson) doesn't have any faith, while all those around him wear their religious leanings on their sleeves.
Marketed as "an inspirational story about discovering the healing power of hope," the movie has a theme rather like the current political one of "hope you can believe in." Well, I'm here to tell you that this hope is full of audacity but not much veracity. People line up around Henry Poole's house, claiming that his slapdash paint job has miraculously revealed the face of god on the side of his small stucco home. I'm betting you will not be able to see much of anything other than an ugly smudge.
When we first meet Henry, he is trying to purchase the house he grew up in. Since the current owner refuses to sell, he buys the nearest house instead, paying full price even though his real estate agent tells his she could easily get it for ten percent less. Henry will likely remind you of Nicolas Cage's character in LEAVING LAS VEGAS. Henry appears to be a drunk who has gone someplace to drink himself to death. Reinforcing this is Henry's claim, made between his ever-present drinks, that he won't be there long. Although the neighbors may take the "there" to mean in his new house, it more likely means he plans on dying soon.
The irony is that the house Henry purchased was last occupied by a guy who died of a heart attack and who was found by his girlfriend, Esperanza (Adriana Barraza). She is also the one who interprets the stain on Henry's wall as the face of God. She soon has her priest and members of her church trooping through Henry's backyard, unannounced and uninvited.
The story also features a 6-year-old girl next door (Millie Stupek) who has not spoken in over a year and a grocery store clerk named Patience (Rachel Seiferth) who can barely see through her coke bottle thick glasses. Any guess on how their afflictions might change as the story progresses? Yep, you guessed it. Ugh.
Prepare to gag.
HENRY POOLE IS HERE runs 1:39. It is rated PG-13 for "thematic elements and some language" and would be acceptable for all ages.
The film opens in limited release in the United States on Friday, August 15, 2008. In the Silicon Valley, it will be showing at the AMC theaters, the Century theaters and the Camera Cinemas.
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Originally posted in the rec.arts.movies.reviews newsgroup. Copyright belongs to original author unless otherwise stated. We take no responsibilities nor do we endorse the contents of this review.
