On the Line: A Movie Review

The movie On the Line is a romantic comedy film directed by Eric Bross and released in 2001. The film follows Kevin Gibson (played by Lance Bass) who meets the girl of his dreams, Abbey (played by Emmanuelle Chriqui), on a commuter train and spends the rest of the movie trying to track her down. Despite lukewarm reviews, the movie has a devoted fan base, especially among *NSYNC fans who supported Lance Bass’ foray into acting.

The Good

The chemistry between Lance Bass and Emmanuelle Chriqui is palpable and their scenes together are the highlight of the movie. Both actors imbue their characters with a likeability that keeps the audience rooting for them, despite some of the implausibilities in the plot. Joey Fatone, another member of *NSYNC, also makes an appearance in the movie as Kevin’s friend and provides some comic relief. The movie also features a great soundtrack with songs from various artists including Mandy Moore, BBMak, and Vitamin C.

The Bad

Different elements of the plot feel contrived and the movie ultimately falls victim to many of the tropes of the romantic comedy genre. The movie relies heavily on coincidence, particularly when Kevin and Abbey repeatedly cross paths but fail to recognize each other outside of their initial train meeting. Additionally, Kevin’s motivation for finding Abbey feels tenuous and his decision to quit his job and launch a city-wide search for her seems like a stretch. The movie also suffers from some cliché jokes and supporting characters that feel one-dimensional.

The Takeaway

On the Line is a fun and endearing movie that is perfect for an easy watch. While not perfect, the chemistry between the two leads and the soundtrack make up for some of the implausibilities in the plot. It may not be a classic in the romantic comedy genre, but for fans of *NSYNC or those looking for a light-hearted film, On the Line is worth considering.