Bill Murray has certainly embraced the role of the slightly creepy but mostly likable, eccentric old dude in recent years. Between appearing in every Wes Anderson movie and crashing strangers’ bachelor parties, he seems like a guy who does whatever he wants, whenever he wants.

That attitude implies that he only does projects that he feels will be good for one reason or another, which is why “St. Vincent” was appealing. Murray playing a miserable curmudgeon who takes a kid to the bar and the racetrack against the will of the comedically-gifted Melissa McCarthy has the potential to be a pleasant little comedy.

For the most part, that’s what “St. Vincent” is: a nice, inoffensive movie, but one that unfortunately fails to make much of an impression on a comedic or emotional level.

As I hinted at before, Murray plays the titular Vincent, a trashy, distant, vaguely racist man who gets some new neighbors in the form of Maggie (McCarthy) and her son Oliver (Jaeden Lieberher). Vincent needs money, so he offers an hourly fee to watch Oliver while Maggie is at work.

It’s a more upbeat “Gran Torino” without the racial disparity, and the lead performances are the main draw here. Murray does what he’s supposed to do, but there are a few points where he lays it on a little thick. A slightly more subtle performance would have been nice. The bar for child actors is extremely low (just don’t be annoying) and Lieberher manages to stay just above it.

The best thing about “St. Vincent” is McCarthy’s role, as she gets to show acting chops playing an actual human being instead of a one-liner-spouting caricature like she has been in her more mainstream roles. She’s gifted enough to do that while being funny, and she shows it here.

There’s nothing especially memorable about the film besides that, though. No eminently quotable lines, no knee-slapping scenes and relatively few emotionally resonant moments. It’s less that the comedy falls flat and more that the comedy kind of isn’t there. There are a handful of amusing moments, but showing a little kid betting on horse racing isn’t the height of comedy.

So while there’s nothing despicable about “St. Vincent,” it’s difficult to recommend for any one reason. It’s slight and has a modicum of charm here and there, but overall, it just doesn’t hit.