Here on Earth (2000)

"....surprisingly inviting   Rene Rodriguez, Miami Herald
"Chris Klein smolders in every scene!  Teen Magazine

Editor's Note The story of a well-to-do prep school youth, Kelley (Chris Klein), who is sentenced to spend the summer in a small town, rebuilding a diner that he accidentally helped burn down. Once there, he forges a bond with an underprivileged girl, Samantha (Leelee Sobieski), who is living with a terminal illness. As the summer wanes and Kelley must confront the realities of life, he learns a valuable lesson that culminates in his valedictorian speech on graduation day.

	John Hartnett
	Leelee Sobieski
	Annette O'Toole
	Chris Klein
	Josh Hartnett
	Mark Piznarski - Director
	Michael D. O'Shea - Director of Photography
	Andrea Morricone - Musical Score
	Jeffrey Downer, et al. - Producer
	Michael Seitzman - Writer

In a sleepy Massachusetts town near the Berkshires, Kelley (Klein) is graduating from an exclusive prep school as valedictorian of his class. Out on a joyride in the Mercedes he got as a graduation gift, he struts into the local hangout, Mable's Table--frequented by public school kids but off-limits to preppies--flirts with the waitress, Samantha (Sobieski), and fights with her boyfriend, Jasper (Hartnett). An ensuing drag race results in an accident that causes the diner to explode and burn down. As punishment, Kelley misses graduation and is sentenced by a judge to spend the summer in Putnam, renting a room from Jasper's family, rebuilding the diner, and, "building character." But the only thing Kelley builds is a teenage hunger for Samantha, who is easily romanced away from Jasper. Kelley and Sam spend the summer exploring the woods and reciting their favorite poem, "Birches" by Robert Frost. From there, the story turns tragic. Los Angeles Times
"...It's an old-fashioned story of young love, enlivened by an attractive cast and settings..." 03/24/2000 p.F10

Chicago Sun-Times
"...Leelee Sobieski is really very good in this movie..." 03/24/2000 p.29

James Berardinelli's ReelViews 5 of 10
Ultimately, Here On Earth doesn't serve a purpose beyond giving melodramatically susceptible girls in the audience a chance to cry. Perhaps the filmmakers believe that, since it's aimed at a relatively young crowd (witness the "soft" PG-13 rating), they don't have to worry overmuch about things like a well-crafted story. And it doesn't matter if the males can act; they just have to look good with their shirts off - James Berardinelli

Chicago Sun-Times 5 of 10
This seems to be an utterly unmotivated act, but actually it has a splendid motivation: He has to leave so that he can come back. The plot requires a crisis before the dawn. The fact that his action is unconvincing and inexplicable doesn't bother the filmmakers any more than it bothers the saintly and forgiving Samantha. - Roger Ebert