Review: Here on Earth

#110 - Here on Earth


Here on Earth is a story about an unexpected love coming into your life when you need it the most. A small-town girl, Samantha, meets a boy named Kelley when he crashes his car into her family's restaurant one night. Kelley is forced to stay in town to rebuild the restaurant, which lands him in a world of trouble with Samantha's boyfriend, Jasper. Samantha finds Kelley intriguing, so she begins to spend a lot of time with him. This pulls her further away from Jasper, and she eventually finds herself in love with Kelley. This is awful timing because Samantha finds out that she has a form of cancer in her knee, and she is dying. Kelley is someone who is rich and spoiled, and he is always used to getting exactly what he wants - this is the complete opposite of that. He commits himself to Samantha, and stays with her until the bitter end. He learns a lot about himself, which makes him become a better person in the end. Just like Samantha needed Kelley in her life, Kelley really needed Samantha in his.

There are several aspects of this film that draw you in and make you fall in love with the characters, but there are even more things make you step back and think, "Wait, what?" For example, Samantha is an innocent little small-town girl that hasn't had any excitement in her life, so it's natural that she would be interested in Kelley: a rich city boy with the world at his fingertips. However, for her to give herself over so willingly to someone as arrogant as Kelley is astounding. He not only starts fights wherever he goes, but he sped his car into her family's restaurant and is rude every chance he gets. He also is very forward with his advances towards her, which I would think would be a major turn-off. It's almost like he KNOWS she is going to fall for him. That's not adorable, that's awful. Then you throw in someone that is as gorgeous as Josh Hartnett, and I really don't get it. Jasper seems to be absolutely in love with Samantha, so it hurts my heart to see her reject him the way she does. Samantha doesn't even break up with Jasper before she starts kissing and dating Kelley. I know I'm supposed to root for Samantha and Kelley, but throughout most of the movie I don't.

I really don't even feel sorry for Kelley when his demanding father keeps controlling his life. Maybe if Kelley would stop screwing up, then his father wouldn't have to be so harsh. Cry me a river, Kelley. I am not going to feel bad for you when you have tons of money and an awesome education.

I never actually feel like Kelley and Samantha are meant to be together. He is awful to her after he finds out she has cancer and is dying. He ignores her, and then he leaves town. Also, I really hate the scene when Kelley takes her to his mansion and they sleep together. She literally JUST told Jasper she couldn't be with him less than a few hours ago, and now she's in bed with Kelley. Samantha seems like a sensible girl, but she throws that all aside for someone she barely knows. Someone who, as far as she knows, could still just be sweet talking her. I have no idea how she can be so forgiving and take him back after he leaves her in her deepest time of need as well. Jasper is the one that is consistently there for her. It's upsetting. THAT is what would make me fall in love. Kelley is gone for the entire last 1/4 of the film, yet she smiles and lets him carry her to the lovers wall during the grand re-opening of Mable's Table.  He shows up with flowers and BOOM, she just gives in. He's been gone for months. He only returns when it's convenient for him. And Jasper, being the amazing guy (gentleman) that he is, he lets her go because it makes her happy. Seriously? How many times are you going to blatantly reject a man like Jasper? My anger overshadows the good points in the film, which are few and far between...I apologize for my ranting.

The movie, overall, is just not believable to me - that's why I pick out everything wrong with the story.

My judgment and feelings may be clouded by my love for Josh Hartnett though. I would definitely choose Jasper over Kelley. No doubt.


I give Here on Earth 2.5 out of 5 stars.