‘Wilson' comes off as cartoonish

“I believe that every one of us has a story to tell.”

So begins the dry, voice-over narration of the film “Wilson,” courtesy of Woody Harrelson in the title role. Wilson, a middle-aged misanthrope, is based on a character created by Daniel Clowes in his graphic novel of the same name.

Clowes- whose “Ghost World” and “Art School Confidential” have previously been made into films - adapted his 2010 book for this screen version, directed by Craig Johnson of “The Skeleton Twins.”

Wilson may be correct - that we all have something to get off our chests - but the evidence presented by this sour-to-the-point-of-toxic bellyacher suggests that not all of our ravings are equally worth telling, or hearing. Wilson's insistent anti-charisma kills whatever inherent charm his story possesses, in its narrative of a jerk attempting to bond with the daughter he never knew he had.

Over the course of the film, Wilson - who has no visible means of support but mocks people, like an I.T. consultant, for their jobs - learns that his ex-wife (Laura Dern) did not have an abortion after she left him several years ago, as he believed.

“Wilson” is the kind of film that expects a laugh when we learn that his ex is named Pippi - as in Longstocking - and that she now sports a tattoo on her lower back reading “Property of Sir D.A.D.D.Y. Big D---.” Wilson, at another point, creeps out some dude standing next to him at a urinal by complimenting the stranger on his, er, equipment.

Again, that's meant to be funny.

The movie centers on Wilson's attempt to establish some kind of rapport with his now-teenage daughter (Isabella Amara), who was given up for adoption, although the film gives us no reason to believe that he has ever successfully connected with a human being before.

What may have worked on the pages of a book-length cartoon comes across as merely cartoonish when enacted by live actors.

At least here it does. Steve Buscemi's similarly misfit Seymour in “Ghost World” managed to evoke a dyspeptic pity from the audience that Wilson, alas, cannot, despite the film's strenuous efforts to humanize him.

There's a story here, all right, but it's a heartless and bitter one.