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Here On Earth
CLIP IN
00:39:22
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00:45:19

SUMMARY

While antique shopping with her family, Jen pulls Samantha aside and warns her against getting involved with Kelley, saying that he is not to be trusted even if he seems exciting and dangerous.

Over at the general store, Kelley is buying a soda when Samantha sneaks up behind him, and the two start making out in the aisle. They are caught by Pete and Vanessa, who are shocked that Samantha is cheating on Jasper.

Later, in a field, Kelley names each of Samantha's body parts after American states. Then they kiss passionately.

ANALYSIS

Initially, it seemed that Kelley and Samantha had nothing in common: he was rich, and she was poor; he was old, and she was young; she had a boyfriend, and he wasn't him. In movie romances like these, the lovers will frequently encounter opposition from others pointing out the reasons why their relationship doesn't make sense. Usually, this creates dramatic tension based on the expectation that everyone will eventually realize their love is legitimate after all. In this case, however, the viewer can only hope that Samantha listens to her sister and spends the rest of the summer begging Jasper for forgiveness.

After sharing such a erotic kiss with Kelley at the baseball diamond, however, Samantha cannot help but express her newfound love in public places, such as the general store where Jasper's friend works. To be sure, this is a small town, and getting privacy must be something of a challenge. Fortunately for Samantha (as previously established ), she lacks such burdensome social graces as "subtlety" or "class," and breezily fellates Kelley (symbolically, in the form of chugging his Coca-Cola) in front of her boyfriend's friends.

Shockingly, Kelley and Samantha muster up the nerve to act surprised and offended when Pete and Vanessa shed a little perspective on their situation:

Pete: What are you doing?
Samantha: We weren't doing anything!

Now that she has been caught red-handed by witnesses who will surely inform her boyfriend immediately, Samantha takes this opportunity to urge her new lover away so they can spend the afternoon heavy petting in a field. As this scene begins, Kelley informs Samantha, "I don't want to get between you and another guy. That's just not cool," a statement that implies one of two possibilities:

  1. Kelley has managed not to see any of the movie so far
  2. Samantha just suggested that she, Kelley, and Jasper have a threesome

Once again, we are reminded of Kelley and Samantha's differences as he shows off his worldliness by naming her body parts after various U.S. states; this supremely awkward situation does not improve when Kelley actually corrects Samantha for referring to her right breast as "New York" instead of "New Jersey."

Apparently, this scenario is much more embarrassing to witness than participate in, judging from Samantha's enchanted reaction to Kelley's geography-related pillow talk. As she moans "Massachusetts welcomes you..." in response, Samantha engages in Kelley's unspoken competition to determine the weirdest thing to say right before kissing.


MEMORABLE SCREENCAPS
Kelley's "entering a room" stance.
Leelee Sobieski experiences a moment of clarity when the director instructs her to kiss Chris Klein.
DELETED SCENES
EXT. FIELD - DAY

Samantha: [referring to her right breast] I suppose that one there's New York.
Kelley: That's Jersey. That's New York.
Samantha: What the fuck is that supposed to mean?

STUDY QUESTIONS
What are some other things Kelley and Samantha might say right before kissing? Here are some ideas to get you started:
  • "A hot meal will keep your man coming back for more..."
  • "Hip-hop can't take you the places ballet can..."
  • "I have a retainer though..."
  • "Chicken feet, whips..."
JUDGE MADDICK SAYS...
"These kids should think about what they're doing! 50% of American marriages end in divorce! I should know -- I starred in the pilot for Divorce Court!"

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© The Slow Roll 2007