AGW review crew member Lynn b. went to a screening of a new romantic comedy. Here are her thoughts about:

ON THE LINE

Miramax Pictures

Lance Bass and Joey Fatone of N'Sync are two busy guys. While recording their "Celebrity" album and planning for a summer stadium tour, they co-starred in their first film, the romantic comedy (with music) On the Line. Joey plays a singer/songwriter….big stretch. Lance plays a young ad executive who meets his dreamgirl on the train but doesn't get her phone number. Lance insists that he was definitely doing serious acting since, in real life, he would never have gotten off that train without all the details to make that cutie his.

1994, Kevin (Lance Bass) is singing in high school band "Granite". He's stuck on a girl but is too chicken to ask her out. Seven years later, he's a young ad executive in Chicago but hasn't changed his style. As his high school bud Rod (Joey Fatone) tells him, "When you meet the right girl, you choke". Poor Kevin also can't get ahead at work. He's got great ideas but is sabotaged by rival exec Jackie (Tamala Jones) who wants a new Nike account all to herself.

On the "L" train one day, Kevin meets a gorgeous girl who shares his love for the music of R & B classic star Al Green and a strange ability to name all the U.S. Presidents…in order. There's a great connection but he freezes and doesn't get her number…or even her name. Later, Kevin's old pals are still on his case about his lack of courage. Rod (Joey Fatone) who sings in a rock band, even writes and performs a comic song about it "Kevin Crapped Out". At work, Jackie claims his ideas as her own and he doesn't speak up.

With the backing of his pals, Kevin starts a campaign to find his dream girl. He puts up posters all over town. Only once in high school did Kevin get the girl. The guy who wanted her is now a newspaper reporter (Dan Montgomery) and wants to get even. He puts a story on Kevin's search for Ms. Right on the front page. Instead of making Kevin a laughing stock, it attracts every single girl in town who phones claiming to be his "L" train sweetie. Rod and old pals Eric (GQ) and Randy (James Bulliard) decide to pretend to be Kevin and date the "leftovers". When traingirl Abbey (Emmanuelle Chriqui) finally does call, she gets one of the pals pretending to be Kevin and gets mad. The reporter exposes the whole search for love as a scam and Kevin goes from the guy every girl wants to the one they all hate.

To make up for messing things up, Rod and buds go all out to help Kevin and Abbey finally hook up.

------------Didn't we just see this film only with older stars and a more clever plot? On the Line is a fun but less polished version of Serendipity. Even Lance Bass has said that his character Kevin is a loser. In fact, he's such a wimp at love, at standing up for himself at work and with his friends, that it's hard to root for him to succeed. Lance decided to drop the blonde-tipped hair for a mousy brown look that makes him fit his shy-guy part but takes away his rock-star polish. Lance's character Kevin takes so much guff from his friends that you wonder why he wouldn't ditch them. He even gives Rod's tape of songs to successful rocker Mick Silver (Richie Sambora) to help along his career after Rod has participated in a scam that nearly lost Kevin the girl of his dreams.

Bass is also Executive Producer of the film and you get the idea that it was cobbled together from his wish list. This includes R&B legend Al Green who is awkwardly worked into the story along with Sammy Sosa for a little cameo and rocker Richie Sambora as a rock star interested in Rod (Joey's) music. Lance is okay in his role, especially since he's never taken a real acting lesson. Joey fares a little better since his character is the comic relief, a jokester/musician close to his own personality and he gets to show off his lead singer ability while Lance barely sings at all. Canadian actress Emmanuelle Chriqui is a good choice for "train girl", with her dreamy, little girl voice and dark good looks.

The question is, will 'N-Sync fans care about any criticisms? Music includes a snappy title track that includes Lance, Joey, Mandy Moore, Christian Burns from BBMak and True Vibe, and the soundtrack boasts other "N-Sync songs. Joey is featured on several songs including his rocker version of "Pour Some Sugar On Me" and a nice ballad or two. There are cuts by Vitamin C and "Let Me Be" by Britney and some great Al Green tunes are peppered throughout.

This is not "The 'N Sync Movie". The rest of the guys, sans J.C., only appear in a little cameo at the film's conclusion that is silly but humorous. Bottom Line: If you are a rabid fan of the group, you'll get a rush out of seeing Lance and Joey outside their usual concert or music video playground. For an evening of light comedy/drama with an upbeat musical track, On the Line makes a nice little date flick.

Rated: PG-13
Official Website: www.getontheline.com

Directed by: Eric Bross (She's All That)
Screenplay by: Eric Aronson, Paul Stanton
Starring:
Lance Bass as Kevin
Joey Fatone as Rod
Emmanuelle Chriqui as Abbey
GQ as Eric
James Bulliard as Randy
Richie Sambora as Mick Silver
Dan Montgomery as Brady
Dave Foley as Higgins.