Review of Here On Earth

Introduction

Ah, teen romance. Hark back to a more innocent time, when the world seemed simpler and life`s problems more immediate and important. Well it was never like that, but the sub genre of teen romance movies helps create illusions of our youths, as we want them to be rather than what they really were. Here On Earth takes a new look at the problems facing three adolescents caught up in a love triangle.

Kelley is a spoilt rich kid who goes to an exclusive private school. When he is about to graduate, his father gives him a sports car as a present. Eager to try it out, he and his friends sneak out and drive to the local town. At the diner he flirts with the waitress, Samantha much to the chagrin of her boyfriend Jasper. After the inevitable confrontation, Kelley and his friends are ejected, but not before raising the ire of Jasper and his friends. The inevitable car race between the two of them results in disaster when Jasper`s car crashes into the gas station and the diner is destroyed in the resulting conflagration. One quick court case later and both Jasper and Kelley are sentenced to help rebuild the diner over summer. Kelley reluctantly acquiesces, but tries to stay aloof from the townsfolk while construction continues. Samantha is drawn to the sensitive soul beneath the callous youth and gradually draws Kelley from his seclusion. Inevitably teen romance blossoms, and causes much conflict and consternation when Jasper learns of Samantha`s betrayal.

Video

Here On Earth is presented in a 1.85: anamorphic transfer. The picture is very colourful but soft. I noticed some dirt on the print during the car race, but otherwise the film was in good condition. The direction by Mark Piznarski is adequate if uninspired. There is a large use of tints to create the illusion of an idyllic summer, but often the scenes are cluttered.

Audio

You get an English DD 5.1 soundtrack and it is an understated affair. The surround adequately conveys the atmosphere and the dialogue is clear. Andrea Morricone scored the film and the music is a little mundane, but perfectly suited to this genre of movie. The contemporary music chosen for the soundtrack is variable, with some great tunes mixed in with some not so great ones. See the extras for one of the not so great ones.

Features

As well as the usual scene selections and subtitles, you get a Theatrical Trailer and the Music Video "Where You Are" by Jessica Simpson. It`s one of those emotive ballad affairs with lots of soft focus shots and idyllic scenery. Jessica Simpson over-enunciates every lyric with her lungs really cranking out the decibels. I tell you Whitney Houston has a lot to answer for.

Conclusion

This is one of those by-the-numbers teen love stories. Rich kid hits small town, sweeps small town girl off her feet, small town boyfriend gets irate. You know that it`ll end in tears. For 93 minutes I was in cliché hell. The thing about hackneyed and worn out stories is that they can be rejuvenated by the performances. Chris Klein, who disappointed me in American Pie starts out promisingly here as Kelley. He has a cold attitude as the spoilt rich kid and his confrontation and to a lesser degree culture clash with the small town culture is initially entertaining. But then the romance with Samantha develops and his hard edges crumble into something a whole lot soppier. Josh Hartnett is great as Jasper. He is a rough and ready farm kid, who only knows one way to keep his girl, but doesn`t play the role as a stereotypical tough kid instead bringing some humanity to the part. Unfortunately, the girl at the centre of this triangle, Samantha as played by Leelee Sobieski is disappointing. A shame really as her character is pivotal to the story. She is in a trying tangle of emotions as she is caught between Jasper and Kelley, but rather than look conflicted, she looks mildly confused and lacks chemistry with either of her suitors.

Here On Earth is dripping with clichés. When Rich Kid Kelley revealed his tragic background, I was not surprised. There is a twist in the film which you can see coming a mile off. If you can`t see, don`t worry, the script signposts it for you as does the blurb. But for all the honeyed and idyllic images that you are presented with, all the saccharine schmaltz that fills the script to overflowing, the story is an uninvolving one and I remained detached from the film. It was tugging like crazy at all my heartstrings, but nothing, no reaction. After an hour and half, I still couldn`t care for any of the characters, and this from a guy who still gets a lump in his throat while watching Lassie movies. It is a competent teen romance, which gets the job done. It`ll pass the time, once but it`s not destined for a replay.