he Mesopotamians and Greeks found shapes in the stars. Similarly, I once ate a salt and vinegar potato chip that looked like Yogi Bear’s head. Finding familiar likenesses in nature is a playful pastime, provided those shapes do not resemble an object or personage with a religious connotation. Henry Poole wishes he had just found a sarcastic cartoon bear emblazoned on his home.

In Henry Poole is Here, Luke Wilson’s eponymous Henry Poole buys a house and gets a stucco job that may or may not resemble Jesus Christ. Naturally, the stained wall begins to perform miracles, much to the consternation of the atheistic homeowner. Zealots gather, existential debates ensue, and secrets are revealed; unfortunately, no significant conclusions come forth.

The first act plays out like Leaving Las Vegas light (i.e. without the prostitute), with Poole coping poorly with a recent revelation (you’ll see it coming in the opening scenes) and a nagging past. He surrounds himself with familiar down-and-out touchstones (i.e. pizza and donuts) as he drinks and broods. Luckily, Wilson’s affability makes these moments bearable before the always-solid Radha Mitchell shows up to add a little cheer.

As the film’s focal point, Wilson gives a wide ranging, charismatic performance that both capitalizes on his typical allures and reveals unexpected ones. Though known for his scruffy charm, he is particularly – and surprisingly – effective when angry or anguished. He imbues an inherently unlikeable character with pathos and depth. Similarly, as local zealot Esperanza, co-star Adriana Barraza crafts a layered creation that bounds smoothly between manipulative and didactic and pathetic and kind. The interactions between the two almost redeem the film’s thinness.