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Henry Poole Is Here: Walking Montage (2008)
Released By: Overture Films   Rating: PG   In Theaters: 8/15/2008
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Studio: Overture Films
Genre: Comedy
MPAA Rating: PG
Director: Mark Pellington
Language: English
Official Website: http://www.myspace.com/henrypooleishere
Theatrical Release: 8/15/2008
Home Video Release: 1/20/2009
Cast: Luke Wilson, Radha Mitchell, George Lopez, Cheryl Hines
Published ID: 434427
UPC: 013138004499, 013138306487, 013138008299,
Plot: Given a grim diagnosis during a routine doctor's checkup, a man who once had it all finds his attempt to disappear into a working-class suburb and spend his remaining days subsisting on vodka and junk food hopelessly disrupted when he falls for the beautiful divorcée next door and a busybody neighbor notices a miraculous stain on his stucco wall. Henry Poole (Luke Wilson) had a comfortable life and a beautiful fiancée. But just when it seemed that the future couldn't look any brighter for Henry, a visit to the doctor's office casts a dark cloud over his sunny outlook. Shattered, Henry wants nothing more in life than to simply vanish into his surroundings, and what better way to accomplish that feat than to purchase a cookie-cutter house in a working-class suburb and spend his final days awaiting the inevitable in peaceful solitude. Unfortunately for Henry, his new neighbors aren't about to let the handsome neighborhood newcomer spend his days sulking. The first to stop by and welcome Henry to his new home is local yenta Esperanza (Adriana Barraza), who comes knocking on his door with a fresh plate of homemade tamales and laundry list of questions. Later, after taking notice of sad-eyed divorcée Dawn (Radha Mitchell) and her taciturn eight-year-old daughter, Millie (Morgan Lily), who hasn't spoken a work since her father left, Henry finds his self-imposed exile shattered when Esperanza notices a stain on his stucco wall that seems to possess miraculous powers. Before Henry can say Hail Mary, Esperanza is leading pilgrimages to the holy site in his backyard and inviting Father Salizar (George Lopez) to give his blessings to the sacrosanct blemish. As skeptical as Henry may be about the healing powers of the curious apparition, however, his growing friendship with young Millie not only brings him closer to Dawn, but also proves to him that there's no escaping the power of hope. Cheryl Hines, Richard Benjamin, and Jessica Walter co-star in a wry existential comedy drama penned by first-time feature film screenwriter Albert Torres, and directed by Mark Pellington (Arlington Road, The Mothman Prophecies). ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
IDDateTimeTitleReviewHelpfulVotesTotalVotes
Great movie
Added 11/10/2009

I just watched this movie and found it to be a very thoughtful, moving and humorous film. I'm a big fan of both Wilson brothers so Luke Wilson's appearance in this film hooked me. But what I found inside was a movie that wasn't afraid to deal with the "conflict" that faith can produce in real life. Not only externally between different people and their worldviews, but the internal struggle to explain the unexplainable. The story that unfolds was tremendous and thought provoking. I highly recommend it!

It is a very laid back film but I think it was anything but boring. And the soundtrack was incredible - a perfect compliment to the movie in every way!

0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
Great family film
Added 11/6/2009

Henry Poole is Here is a movie about a guy who struggles with things we all do - faith, doubt, the meaning of life, relationships, etc. It's a perfect family film and encourages you to have a little faith.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
Is this Poole Deep Enough?
Added 9/29/2009

My wife and I rented this movie on a whim and soon found ourselves entranced by the fine acting and wonderful themes. How, we wondered, did this fly under the box office radar? Why was the public subjected to "Transformers II" instead?

Luke Wilson gives one of his best performances here, playing the part of Henry Poole, a man who buys a house in his old southern Cal neighborhood, then closes up the windows and drinks himself into a stupor. Soon, his depressive ways are interrupted by a friendly, yet nosy, neighbor. Esperanza has past ties to the house, and in her desire to maintain some link, she believes she finds the face of Christ visible in stucco water stains. Poole gets impatient when Esperanza calls in the Catholic Church to verify her "find," and also calls in the local biddies to light candles and pay homage at the back wall of his home.

What starts as a straightforward story of skepticism versus belief turns into a deeper story about faith, hope, and love. There are humorous moments, including some sublime scenes between Poole and a grocery checker named Patience. The acting is great--particularly with Poole, Dawn, and Esperanza's parts--and there are some nice bits of dialogue. A scene in which Poole picks up an ax also broods with potential power. However, the slow pace and music sometimes gave us the sense we were being squeezed for emotion.

This film shows that Hollywood is not all glitz and ditziness (refer back to "Transformers II"), but can actually search for deeper meaning. For me, however, this Poole was not as deep as I hoped. The lack of details regarding Poole's terminal condition and the obvious tweaks for an emotional reaction left me still struggling to believe. Nevertheless, I think it's a movie well worth watching and contemplating.

0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
A truly wonderful film!
Added 9/8/2009

Sometimes, when we are without hope, hope will come and find us. Henry Poole is Here is a perfect little film about love, life, death, friendship, belief and miracles. It's so strange that I never heard about this movie until I stumbled upon it on cable. What a perfect film! Where was the advertising and hoopla that usually heralds the release of a movie in theatres, and again on DVD? Apparently, this was not directed at the teen audience, and it didn't provide enough death, violence and destruction to make it a blockbuster at the local cinema.

Buy this movie! Pass on the word! Henry Poole Is Here is a classic!

2 out of 2 people found this helpful.
Henry Poole is Here
Added 8/5/2009

Loved the movie, very different, but interesting & loved all the characters. Always been a fan of Luke Wilson.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
Great movie
Added 11/10/2009

I just watched this movie and found it to be a very thoughtful, moving and humorous film. I'm a big fan of both Wilson brothers so Luke Wilson's appearance in this film hooked me. But what I found inside was a movie that wasn't afraid to deal with the "conflict" that faith can produce in real life. Not only externally between different people and their worldviews, but the internal struggle to explain the unexplainable. The story that unfolds was tremendous and thought provoking. I highly recommend it!

It is a very laid back film but I think it was anything but boring. And the soundtrack was incredible - a perfect compliment to the movie in every way!

0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
Great family film
Added 11/6/2009

Henry Poole is Here is a movie about a guy who struggles with things we all do - faith, doubt, the meaning of life, relationships, etc. It's a perfect family film and encourages you to have a little faith.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
Is this Poole Deep Enough?
Added 9/29/2009

My wife and I rented this movie on a whim and soon found ourselves entranced by the fine acting and wonderful themes. How, we wondered, did this fly under the box office radar? Why was the public subjected to "Transformers II" instead?

Luke Wilson gives one of his best performances here, playing the part of Henry Poole, a man who buys a house in his old southern Cal neighborhood, then closes up the windows and drinks himself into a stupor. Soon, his depressive ways are interrupted by a friendly, yet nosy, neighbor. Esperanza has past ties to the house, and in her desire to maintain some link, she believes she finds the face of Christ visible in stucco water stains. Poole gets impatient when Esperanza calls in the Catholic Church to verify her "find," and also calls in the local biddies to light candles and pay homage at the back wall of his home.

What starts as a straightforward story of skepticism versus belief turns into a deeper story about faith, hope, and love. There are humorous moments, including some sublime scenes between Poole and a grocery checker named Patience. The acting is great--particularly with Poole, Dawn, and Esperanza's parts--and there are some nice bits of dialogue. A scene in which Poole picks up an ax also broods with potential power. However, the slow pace and music sometimes gave us the sense we were being squeezed for emotion.

This film shows that Hollywood is not all glitz and ditziness (refer back to "Transformers II"), but can actually search for deeper meaning. For me, however, this Poole was not as deep as I hoped. The lack of details regarding Poole's terminal condition and the obvious tweaks for an emotional reaction left me still struggling to believe. Nevertheless, I think it's a movie well worth watching and contemplating.

0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
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