On the Line

Washington Post Richard Harrington

Harmless romantic and musical high jinks abound, and sentimentality prevails.

Variety Joe Leydon

Perfectly harmless, often humorous, featherweight confection -- think "Serendipity" re-imagined as a teen-skewing Saturday morning sitcom.

The New York Times Stephen Holden

Once you've accepted the notion that On the Line gives product placement in movies a blatant new prominence, the film turns out to be a soothing cinematic snack of milk and cookies.

Portland Oregonian Kim Morgan

'N Sync is bouncy, harmless fun. And so is this stupid movie.

San Francisco Chronicle Mick LaSalle

The movie has some clumsy dialogue and awkward turns, but the picture is brisk and likable.

USA Today Claudia Puig

When so many PG-13 movies are encroaching on R-rated turf, it's heartening to see a film that responsibly approaches its audience.

Miami Herald Connie Ogle

On the Line's cutesy premise is no more ridiculous than that of most romantic comedies.

Philadelphia Inquirer Carrie Rickey

Peppy, painless and -- happily -- not altogether brainless.

Boston Globe Jay Carr

In the end, it's much ado about not very much, certainly not enough to catapult Bass into a film career, but probably enough to satisfy 'N Sync fans.

Entertainment Weekly Owen Gleiberman

On the Line would like to be ''Serendipity'' for the Oxy-and-Skechers set, but it feels more like the worst movie Michael J. Fox never made.

Chicago Reader Lisa Alspector

The consistency with which the plot turns on characterization instead of contrivance makes this movie better than many of its supposedly grown-up competitors.

Village Voice Ed Park

Less a romance than a feature-length plug for 'N Sync and its personalities -- and so, like all ads, not meant for "conscious consumption." Which opens the blissful avenue of sleep.

Los Angeles Times Gene Seymour

Sophisticated romantic comedy for people who think "Corky Romano" is trenchant political satire.

Mr. Showbiz Kevin Maynard

The only reason to sit through On the Line is for some entertaining, if fleeting, musical moments.

Film Threat Michael Dequina

Not a good film. In fact, it's a rather bad example of that already barrel-bottom-scraping genre, the teenybopper romantic comedy.

LA Weekly Chuck Wilson

Bass isn't a gifted actor, but he retains his dignity, mostly by keeping his head down and avoiding the eyes of the idiots around him.

TV Guide Steve Simels

Let's be blunt: Bass can't really act.

New York Post Lou Lumenick

More "it stinks" than *NSYNC.

New York Daily News Elizabeth Weitzman

Whether he's the victim of poor directing or misguided ambition, Bass is almost entirely charisma-free.

Chicago Sun-Times Roger Ebert

An agonizingly creaky movie that laboriously plods through a plot so contrived that the only thing real about it is its length.

New Times (L.A.) Robert Wilonsky

This pallid little ditty, like the rest of Lance Bass and pals' oeuvre, is soulless, banal and derivative.

Seattle Post-Intelligencer Paula Nechak

Though the pop idol recently said that movies are his ultimate goal, the best thing about On the Line is its music.

Austin Chronicle Kimberley Jones

Instantly forgettable.