BY EVAN HENERSON >STAFF WRITER

Mark Pellington figures he owes Jim Carrey a thank-you note, for services largely un-rendered on the film "Henry Poole Is Here."

And Luke Wilson might consider adding his signature to whatever Pellington sends. Carrey's departure from the Pellington-directed "Henry Poole" - which opened in limited release Friday - left Wilson, 37, with the meatiest dramatic role of his career.

Poole, who is in every scene of the film that bears his name, moves into the quiet Southern California neighborhood of his boyhood with the intention of embracing his inner hermit and drinking himself largely into oblivion.

His neighbors don't let this happen, particularly after one of them, Esperanza (played by "Babel's" Adriana Barraza), believes she sees the face and blood of Jesus Christ in Poole's backyard stucco.

Underneath that seriously scruffy beard and those weary eyes is, indeed, the same actor who made a name for himself in films like "Old School," "Legally Blonde," "Charlie's Angels" and of those of Wes Anderson. Wilson next returns to the lighter fare, playing a college professor in love with his professional rival (played by Gretchen Mol) in the upcoming "Tenure."

"I guess if I'm known for anything, it's comedies," admits Wilson, the youngest of the acting and directing trio of Wilson brothers, which also includes Owen and Andrew. "We don't want to get pigeonholed. I try not to worry about that kind of thing, but definitely here's a chance to do something different."

The voice is low-pitched, with the hint of a drawl left over from Wilson's Texas upbringing. His day of interviews is nearly over, and, with a small smile, Wilson relaxes in a hotel suite with a beer.

Not one to get all method-y and disappear into his characters, Wilson still acknowledges that playing "Poole" took a toll.

"Just like one of those things when you get overtired," he says. "Getting tired and just not in a great mood. When you work on a comedy, your goals are much more clear: to make a scene funny. You just kind of get more exhausted on a movie like this."

Wilson was almost spared that exhaustion. Frequent music video director Pellington ("Arlington Road," "The Mothman Prophecies") and screenwriter Albert Torres had been working on the "Henry Poole" script for more than two years.

According to Pellington, Carrey displayed early interest, gave the filmmakers some good ideas to help shape the character, and then dropped out of the movie. When Wilson's name was first broached as a Henry candidate, Pellington admits he "didn't see it."

But the director reconsidered after he saw Wilson in a father-and-son scene with Craig T. Nelson in the 2005 holiday drama "The Family Stone."

"There was some real inner depth there, just in his eyes, and I thought, `Yeah, that can work,"' Pellington says. "I met with him, and within two minutes, I could see this humility, this sadness and this depth in him that I felt he had. I knew he could do the comedic chops."

As to the suggestion that Luke Wilson doesn't typically do drama, Pellington replies, "has he ever been given the opportunity like this in a dramatic film?

"I'm really proud of him," the director continues. "I read one review that said, `Oh, he's really one-note,' and I couldn't tell if the reviewer couldn't see some of the really subtle things he was doing or whether they're coming with baggage. With some actors, people bring their scopes out."

A largely drama-free Wilson says he gets it.

"You get nervous going in when you realize other people are worried about, `Hey, can this guy do this?"' Wilson says. "I just feel like when I do a scene, I'll have this kind of instinct as to whether it works or not. There wasn't anything where I didn't feel I could get there emotionally. And being exhausted always helps."

In Poole, Wilson says he could also relate to a character who experiences normal peaks and valleys of life, but goes a bit too far during the down times.

"I thought there was something kind of noble about it even though the guy's kind of a slob," says Wilson. "He's a funny curmudgeon, like the old guy in the neighborhood when the kids play in his yard. It makes me think that might have been a good scene: kids playing in Henry Poole's yard."

Maybe in the sequel?

"Yeah," Wilson says with a laugh. "`Henry Poole Is Still Here."'

Twelve years ago, movie goers met all three of the Wilson brothers via a quirky Anderson-directed crime comedy called "Bottle Rocket." Apart from his regular hookups in the Anderson comedies ("Bottle Rocket," "The Royal Tenenbaums,") Wilson's resume has been an assortment of goofy comedies ("Anchorman," "Blades of Glory,") romantic comedies ("Alex and Emma") and the occasional horror thriller ("Vacancy"). He briefly dated his "Home Fries" and "Charlie's Angels" co-star Drew Barrymore.

Wilson's first effort in the director's chair was 2005's "The Wendell Baker Story," which he wrote and starred in, playing an ex-con who lands work in a retirement hotel. Wilson has another script, which he and brother Andrew would direct together and which would likely have a role for Owen.

"I'm definitely looking forward to directing again," he says. "I feel I might be able to enjoy it much more and do a good job. I couldn't be happier with the way (`Wendell Baker') went, but it was one of those things where there were a lot of ups and downs. It would be nice to have it be level."

Evan Henerson (818) 713-3651

evan.henerson@dailynews.com