Advanced Search Beta »
Basic Search Fields
Henry Poole Is Here
Metascore
44 out of 100

Mixed or average reviews - based on 25 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 25
  2. Mixed: 14 out of 25
  3. Negative: 5 out of 25
view
per page
  1. Chicago Sun-Times
    Reviewed by: Roger Ebert
    88
    Achieves something that is uncommonly difficult. It is a spiritual movie with the power to emotionally touch believers, agnostics and atheists -- in that descending order, I suspect.
  2. The Hollywood Reporter
    Reviewed by: Kirk Honeycutt
    70
    The biggest hole in this picture is not so much whether an audience will buy its miracles but whether an audience will care about Henry Poole. Wilson hits the same notes in virtually every scene without any change to his physical rhythms or moods.
  3. Seattle Post-Intelligencer
    Reviewed by: William Arnold
    67
    This may sound like a satiric comedy, and its intriguing setup carries a faintly comedic tone, but the movie becomes more straight-faced as it moves along and ends up being a fairly serious examination on the nature of, and necessity for, faith.
  4. Miami Herald
    Reviewed by: Connie Ogle
    63
    A large part of the movie's appeal can be attributed to Wilson, more dour than he's been in ages and yet more interesting, too.
  5. New York Post
    Reviewed by: Linda Stasi
    63
    Sappy and corny, but there are a few lovely moments.
  6. Charlotte Observer
    Reviewed by: Lawrence Toppman
    63
    If inciting boredom is the worst sin a filmmaker can commit, being timid is right behind it. Whether I agree with your point of view or not, I want to hear it.
  7. Baltimore Sun
    Reviewed by: Michael Sragow
    58
    To Pellington's credit, the performers eschew sentimentality.
  8. Chicago Tribune
    Reviewed by: Michael Phillips
    50
    Unfortunately it's all a bit dull.
  9. Philadelphia Inquirer
    Reviewed by: Carrie Rickey
    50
    Handsomely photographed by Eric Schmidt and nicely underplayed by the actors, the film relies too much on its jukebox soundtrack to convey mood.
  10. San Francisco Chronicle
    Reviewed by: Reyhan Harmanci
    50
    A strange and thoughtful little movie.
  11. USA Today
    Reviewed by: Claudia Puig
    50
    The film has some amusing moments and can be intriguing when it focuses on the slow transformation of a hopeless, faithless man.
  12. The Globe and Mail (Toronto)
    Reviewed by: Jason Anderson
    50
    While his sincerity is admirable, Pellington is reluctant to offer any ideas that are more theologically complex than 'Faith is valuable' and 'Life is for living.'
  13. Entertainment Weekly
    Reviewed by: Owen Gleiberman
    50
    It's less a tale of religious rebirth than a faith-based Hallmark card.
  14. Village Voice
    Reviewed by: Tim Grierson
    50
    A film that could have used some of the genuine intrigue of Pellington's thrillers to help offset the increasingly doe-eyed narrative.
  15. Variety
    Reviewed by: Robert Koehler
    50
    Picture's tendency to lecture on the power of faith and religion and on the demerits of science seems to assume an almost childlike audience that needs to be spoon-fed Pablum.
  16. Chicago Reader
    Reviewed by: J.R. Jones
    50
    This contrived situation leads to a debate over the power of faith.
  17. The A.V. Club
    Reviewed by: Nathan Rabin
    50
    Henry Poole cycles through so many indie film clichés--that it continually skirts self-parody.
  18. Christian Science Monitor
    Reviewed by: Peter Rainer
    50
    Some touching moments, but too blandly inspirational.
  19. New York Daily News
    Reviewed by: Elizabeth Weitzman
    40
    It's easy to see how a film so unafraid of religious touchstones could become a phenomenon among the faithful. Nonbelievers, however, need not apply.
  20. Los Angeles Times
    Reviewed by: Robert Abele
    40
    Though not strictly a religious tract, Henry Poole Is Here is undeniably selling spiritual reawakening. If only its makers believed that aesthetically useful adage: God is in the details.
  21. Portland Oregonian
    Reviewed by: Marc Mohan
    33
    Every so often there's a tabloid news story about the Virgin Mary seen in a piece of toast or Mother Teresa on a tortilla, and most of us equate them with Elvis sightings. This film is for the rest.
  22. Austin Chronicle
    Reviewed by: Josh Rosenblatt
    30
    All that's missing from the director's new vision of the world is the pipe organ and the choir of angels.
  23. The New York Times
    Reviewed by: Stephen Holden
    30
    The film's spiritual deck is stacked. In the mawkish tradition of movies like "Simon Birch," "Wide Awake," "August Rush" and "Hearts in Atlantis," Henry Poole Is Here is insufferable hokum that takes itself very, very seriously.
  24. Washington Post
    Reviewed by: Philip Kennicott
    30
    A not-quite-funny comedy that devolves into a tedious discussion of miracles and redemption.
  25. Boston Globe
    Reviewed by: Ty Burr
    25
    Manages a fairly rare trick: It's a movie that's both deeply felt and completely phony.
prev next
Page:
  • 1

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
7.1 out of 10

Generally favorable reviews- based on 18 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 5
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 5
  3. Negative: 1 out of 5
  1. Biggs_ZA
    6
    What a sweet movie. It is in no ways a complex film; thus don't watch it to stimulate your movie critic side. This is a film about hope - not nearly as intense as The Shawshank Redemption (and shouldn't even be compared). This is a movie about hope in a modern context and subtly touches things we have become stubborn to admit or talk about. It also touches our possessiveness over privacy and the alienation to our immediate surroundings and pain of our communities.… Full Review »
  2. MovieFail
    6
    Luke Wilson gives it his best shot in this altogether middling film in the indy genre. The first half of the movie implies a fascinating history and character development for Mr. Poole, a dejected, dying man in the final throes of life. His interactions with (ultimately minor, unfortunately) characters such as the supermarket cashier give insight to his life, and intimate to the audience that there is hope that maybe Henry Poole will have some redeeming qualities beneath his rough exterior. Dismayingly, the film does nothing to follow through with the promise of its strong start. Instead of being a fascinating character study, the film takes a decidedly Hollywood approach to Mr. Poole's troubles. After finding a stain in the shape of the Virgin Mary on the wall of his house, the entire neighborhood, comprised largely of stereotypical Hispanic Catholics, come to pray and turn his house into a religious destination site. This is of course troubles Poole, who only wants to be left alone. This turn of plot, and the introduction of a religious element, marks the downfall of this film. As beautiful as the concept of a magical religious figure appearing and saving everyone is, this idea works only in theory. The movie plays out essentially a deus ex machina-style scenario to conclude the film, something which does not fit the tone of the first half at all. If we never got a chance to really learn about this character, then why would we accept that he deserves this massive salvation? Overall, this movie plods along and doesn't go really anywhere, despite a good first impression. It is unfortunate, because I could see how, without the cheesy religious aspect that made it feel so artificial, this movie could have been an excellent little flick- not to mention showcase for Luke Wilson, who, as per usual, manages to deliver a great performance in spite of the story. Verdict: Movie Meh… Full Review »
  3. GuptaA
    0
    Painful to watch. Just painful!
See all user reviews »