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"On the Line"-- A Treat for Both Fans and Anti-Fans of NSYNC

© Heather Wadowski

Three Stars out of Five

There are two types of people in this world: those who were counting down the days until Lance Bass and Joey Fatone's movie debut, and those who don't know who Lance Bass and Joey Fatone are (they are two of the members of *NSYNC for those of you just coming out of the 1997 cave).

Admit it: whether you hate them or love them, if you know who *NSYNC is your curiosity had to be a bit intrigued by whether or not any of the boys could carry a feature length film. Miramax's romantic-comedy "On the Line" provides the answer-- and the answer is, surprisingly, yes.

Sure, "On the Line" is predictable and viewers will know the jokes before they happen. But the fact that you still care about whether or not the guy gets the girl and you still laugh your butt off at all the jokes proves that "On the Line" is definitely not another Freddie Prinze, Jr., knock-off romantic-comedy.

"On the Line" focuses on Kevin Gibbons (Bass), a young Chicago man who has spent his whole life choking during life's important moments. He's let co-workers take credit for his ideas (and get promoted for them) and let the objects of his desire walk away time and time again. This all changes though when Kevin comes face to face with "the one" (Chriqui) while riding the "L" Train back from work one day. Haunted by the fact that he never got her name or number, Kevin decides its time to become a man and find his one true love... even if it means putting up flyers all over Chicago to find her. Granted Kevin's actions in the real world would be considered stalking and not romantic, but that's the magic of Hollywood-- it can turn pathetic losers into hopeless romantics.

Screenwriters Paul Stanton and Eric Aronson know this and write a witty script to get the audience to cheer for Kevin through thick and thin, no matter how crazy his actions. Furthermore, Stanton and Aronson surround Kevin with obnoxious friends (Fatone being one of them) and develop his past history of choking in front of women in detail so that audiences sympathize with Bass' character. We all know someone a little bit like Kevin Gibbons, and that's what makes us want him to get the girl so much.

No matter how well-rounded a character Stanton and Aronson write though, a talented actor needs to bring the character to life on-screen in order for the story to be successful. Surprisingly, Bass does a fair job at being that actor. There was no doubt in my mind that Bass is a great performer (I've seen *NSYNC in concert numerous times), but I must admit that even I wasn't sure he could carry a film by himself. Although Bass is no Tom Hanks, he does manage to get audiences involved in his character-- which is more than other teen heartthrobs who actually are actors (i.e. Freddie Prinze, Jr.) can do these days.