Though mildly entertaining for the first half, "Here on Earth" is a testament to the string of cheesy teenage "love" stories that Hollywood continues to shamelessly dish out. For a seventh grade girl, Chris Klein is perhaps reason enough to buy a ticket. But for anyone else, the starry-eyed, long-gazing performances by Klein and Leelee Sobieski lack real substance and result in a shallow love story.
Both Klein and Sobieski relied more on their looks than their acting. The film struggled to gain credibility as both actors threw around lines from Robert Frost's poem "Birches" in an attempt to reconcile the closure of their youth. Despite the heavy plot, the film failed to stir much emotion from the audience.
As a teen version of the classic '70s film "Love Story," "Here on Earth" deals with how young love dares to cross socioeconomic boundaries. A Princeton-bound valedictorian of an elite prep school, Kelly (Klein) falls for a pretty middle-class "townie" named Samantha (Sobieski).
When Kelly gets into a dangerous car race with Samantha's long-time boyfriend, Jasper (Josh Hartnett) both the townie and the rich kid have a lot to learn. In seeing their reckless auto racing result in a destructive fire, the two are forced to take responsibility for their actions. A judge orders the two boys to rebuild the local diner that burned down because of them, saying that the experience will have the added bonus of "building character."
Not only does this put Kelly and Jasper in the awkward situation of working together, it creates tension over Samantha, who is herself torn between obligation to Jasper and attraction to Kelly. Hartnett delivers a very believable performance, revealing a character that is much more complex than the stereotypical jealous boyfriend. In testimony to his devotion and pure love for Samantha he makes some difficult sacrifices. Despite his tough demeanor, Jasper is able to attract the sympathy of viewers in his steadfast care for Samantha.
When Samantha overhears Kelly reciting the Valedictorian speech he would have delivered at graduation -- had he not been banned from it as a punishment for his recklessness -- she begins to see that even a perfect rich boy is plagued with problems and that their differences in background are not all that significant. Behind his uncaring and aloof faade, Kelly masks a deep-rooted pain caused by his mother's suicide. During an intimate moment with Samantha, Kelly finally confronts his mother's death. Not only does this bring the two closer, it allows Kelly's healing process to begin.
The two "star-crossed lovers" face a number of obstacles, including fatherly disapproval. Klein's father puts enormous pressure on his son to follow his footsteps in an ambitious financial career. Similarly, Samantha's father does not believe that a privileged boarding school boy could possibly be serious about his daughter, given their poor, rural situation.
These themes are not original or riveting, but they supply decent entertainment for roughly an hour and a half. One plus for the film is the beautiful scenery shot in Minnesota that works well in combination with the Frost motif.
If you are looking for a light distraction, "Here On Earth" is a fun study-break. Much like his role in "American Pie," Klein plays the conceited jock reformed by love. Sobieski, who eerily resembles Helen Hunt, is likely to make a name for herself with her unique combination of sexual innocence and maturity.
If these performers can evolve from teen heartthrobs to serious actors, promising careers may be in store for them and better films for us. "Here on Earth" is ideal adolescent entertainment and not likely to be a college crowd-pleaser.
