The NSYNC Movie Time Forgot (And Why We Can't Look Away)

Admit it—you miss the early 2000s. Questionable fashion, boy-band soundtracks, and heartthrobs… trying their best to act. Clear your schedule, because on a recent So Many Sequels episode, David visited On the Line, and it’s prime cringe. This 2001 rom-com, starring NSYNC’s own Lance Bass and Joey Fatone, is an experience. If you’ve never heard of it, brace yourself. If you’re already a fan, you know the memorable disaster we’re about to unpack.

Love on the L Train

So, what’s the story in On the Line? Leading man Lance Bass, as Kevin, has a fleeting, 'magical' moment with a girl on a Chicago 'L' train. Standard rom-com fare, but here’s the twist only the early 2000s could provide: in a pre-broadband world, he completely fumbles getting her name or number. Smooth.

His solution? Not a discreet classified ad. No, he launches a city-wide flyer campaign, plastering his face everywhere. Cue the inevitable chaos as what feels like every woman in Chicago claims to be 'the one.' Naturally, his pals, including a scene-stealing Joey Fatone, 'help' by running their own sketchy dating service with the hopeful callers. Because that’s what friends in an early 2000s script do, right?

Oscar-Worthy? More Like ‘Technically a Movie’

Is On the Line a movie masterpiece? Let’s cut to the chase: absolutely not. The acting is...well, it’s there. On the podcast, David’s take was that it’s "certainly a sequence of images synchronized to sound," and honestly, that might be the kindest summary you'll hear.

But that's the charm, isn't it? This is prime "so bad it's fun" viewing, best endured with someone who can recognize the unintentional comedy. We're talking Lance's character rocking a full leather suit to his ad agency job with a straight face. Peak millennium!

Spot the Star: Cameo Roulette in Full Effect

Part of the joy of this throwback is the cameo roulette. On the Line somehow managed to rope in Jerry Stiller, Cubs icon Sammy Sosa (brace yourself for that infamous foul ball scene!), Dave Foley doing his best, and the powerhouse Chyna in a memorable, if random, appearance. It's a time capsule of who was available for a day's work in 2001.

The Final Verdict: A Glorious Trainwreck on the Nostalgia Express

So, the final word? On the Line is the cinematic equivalent of a car crash you can’t look away from and definitely won't be troubling any "Best Films Ever" lists. As we concluded on So Many Sequels, its main value today is as a hilarious relic. It’s best watched with someone who either genuinely loved it back then or simply appreciates a good trainwreck.

It’s a cheesy, often incompetent, yet somehow watchable trip down memory lane that’s guaranteed to make you laugh – mostly at it, not with it.

So, did you survive On the Line back in its heyday? What are your favorite movies that are "technically movies"?

Ready to relive this glorious trainwreck? Listen to ‘Disaster Movie MAYHEM! Sinners, New Trailers & Wes Anderson!’ on YouTube or your favorite podcast app—and hop into our Discord to trade your favorite ‘technically movies.’