Luke Wilson films can be hit or miss.  Some of his broad comedy falls flat, but when he plays the decent, human character he can be terribly effective.  In “Henry Poole is Here,” the new film written by Albert Torres and directed by Mark Pellington, we’re fortunate that Wilson has found some middle ground.  It isn’t a monumental film, but a sweet one. 

Wilson plays Henry Poole, who is buying a house in a quiet California neighborhood.  He doesn’t want to haggle over the price, have any repairs done, or anything else.  He simply wants to buy the house, move in, and be left alone.  As he tells the real estate agent (Cheryl Hines), “I won’t be living here that long.”

Like Finbar McBride in “The Station Agent,” Henry just wants to be left alone.  Unless you learned it from the trailers, the reasons for his melancholy state and desire for solitude are revealed to us bit by bit.  But solitude is the one thing Henry is not permitted.  On one side of his house is a troubles child who does not speak, and her mother (Radha Mitchell).  Millie, the daughter, likes to tape record the conversations that take place in Henry’s yard.  Henry clearly is attracted to Millie’s mother, but he is not willing to pursue the relationship.

The brunt of the activity, however, comes from his neighbor on the other side of his house, Esperanza (Adriana Barraza).  A close friend of the former owner, Esperanza discovers what she believes is the face of Jesus in a water stain left in the stucco job on the side of Henry’s house.  She invites over the local Catholic priest (George Lopez) and soon has a number of believers invading Henry’s yard.  Aside from the interruptions, Henry is enraged by the blind faith of the group.  “Your hope will not save you!” he yells.

Overall the film has some laughs, some drama, and some lessons.  It also has some insightful comments on the way we think, the way we validate our own beliefs by having others believe them, and the human desire to fix the present by reliving the past.  As I said, Henry Poole is not a terrific or important film.  But it’s decent entertainment.