In The Wendell Baker Story, our title character, played by Luke Wilson, quips that "it takes a certain strength of character to endure the occasional failure." That's probably true. If so, this gaping yawn of a comedy has likely given Luke Wilson, who wrote the film and co-directed with his brother Andrew, more character than could safely fit inside the Houston Astrodome.

It's not for lack of talent that this flick fizzles. Wilson has assembled a capable cast that includes Harry Dean Stanton, Seymour Cassel, Eva Mendes, Will Ferrell, Eddie Griffin, Kris Kristofferson and Wilson's brother, Owen. Problem is, there just isn't a heck of a lot for anyone to do. The Wendell Baker Story strives for a laidback vibe nestled somewhere between Seventies-era Robert Altman and the hipster cool of Ocean's Eleven. Unfortunately, laidback can easily morph into listlessness, and hipster cool has a pesky way of seeming self-satisfied.

Luke Wilson stars as Wendell Baker, a motormouth Texas con man, the sort of role that Vince Vaughn can (and occasionally does) do in his sleep. But Wendell isn't as swift a crook as he imagines himself to be, and it isn't long before he's busted for selling fake IDs to illegal immigrants along the Rio Grande. He says goodbye to his long-suffering girlfriend (Mendes in a particularly ineffectual performance) and is sent off to prison, where he promptly immerses himself in a paperback copy of "Be My Guest," the autobiography of hotelier Conrad Hilton. It inspires Wendell to go legitimate once he wins his freedom.

But it's hard out here for an imp. After earning parole, Wendell gets a job at a Texas residential retirement hotel run by two insidious nurses, played by Griffin and Owen Wilson, who steal Medicare checks from oldsters whom they subsequently bus off to a farm in Oklahoma.

The movie is pleasant enough to watch, thanks to the workmanlike cinematography of Steve Mason, but it sputters under the weight of a screenplay with precious few laughs. The whole exercise feels haphazard, from clumsily handled exposition to Luke Wilson's intermittent, and needless, voiceover narration. The Shady Grove retirement hotel where Wendell ends up working appears to be devoid of many senior citizens. Harry Dean Stanton and Seymour Cassel are retirement age in real life, but they're among the spryest folks you'll ever come across in a nursing home.

OK, so there are a few bright spots. Owen Wilson makes the most of playing a bad guy. The soundtrack is also notable, collecting terrific country and western songs from the likes of Hank Williams, Johnny Cash and Willie Nelson. Country singer Billy Joe Shaver even shows up in a bit part.

The 2.35:1 widescreen, which is enhanced for 16x9 television screens, boasts fine quality aside from very slight grain in a few spots.

Unremarkable but serviceable audio tracks are available in 5.1 and 2.0 Dolby Digital Surround. Volume is occasionally inconsistent. There are subtitles in Spanish and English for the hearing-impaired.

The disc includes a generous helping of extras. A commentary from Luke Wilson and Andrew Wilson is mildly informative; Luke is saddled with most of the talking, and he ends up having to repeat himself a few times.

Afternoon at Luke's with Harry Dean Stanton and Seymour Cassel (21:26) is a gem for fans of the actors. The title says it all; we follow Cassel and Stanton as they are driven by the Wilson brothers to Luke Wilson's home, where they sit around in the backyard and visit. There are a few fun anecdotes, although the setup might be a bit lengthy for some viewers. Stanton comes off as irascible as you'd expect.

Making Wendell Baker: On Location with the Wilsons (15:37) is a standard on-set promotional piece, featuring interviews with cast and crew. Eight bonus scenes (hmm, remember when they were just plain ol' deleted scenes?) can be viewed separately or with the "play all" function. Other supplemental material includes the Wendell Baker photo album (2:29), a theatrical trailer and assorted trailers of other attractions. Country fans might want to check out a special musical performance by Billy Joe Shaver (3:16). The song is "Live Forever."

The Wendell Baker Story is harmless enough, but it isn't saying much when that's the best thing it's got going.