Here on Earth (2 Stars)

Jasper (Josh Hartnett) and Samantha (Leelee Sobieski) live in a small town. They've been lovers since they were children. He works on his father's farm, she works in her mother's restaurant. It's one of those towns where you're born, live your whole life, and die. Just outside town there's an expensive private school. The school is for boys only, so they go into the town to pick up girls, but in general they're despised by the locals. Kelley (Chris Klein) gets into a fight with Jasper, and a bout of road rage leads to Kelley's car crashing into Samantha's restaurant and destroying it. The judge sentences the two boys to "community service", saying they have to take part in the rebuilding of the restaurant. But Samantha is fascinated by the rich out-of-town boy, and a romance develops.

If that were all that happens the film would have been okay. I could have accepted it as a light-hearted romantic drama. But tragedy strikes. Things get steadily worse, and though the viewers hope for a happy ending none comes. The film is depressing. On top of that is the unconvincing performance from the two male leads. I wasn't previously acquainted with Chris Klein, but he seems bland and uninteresting. I've never liked Josh Hartnett as an actor, except for maybe "Pearl Harbor". Leelee Sobieski is a brilliant actress and easily outshines the rest of the cast, but she can't make up for the depressingly morbid plot.

The trailer can be viewed here, and it makes the film look like a happy romp. But it isn't. I can't recommend it.