Duets (2001)

Karaoke is a way for average people to get on stage and sing cover songs. In Duets, it's also a money sport. No, really. As with other bar sports (pool, darts), the karaoke-for-money game is rife with hustlers. One such hustler is Ricky Dean (Huey Lewis), who takes time off the karaoke circuit to attend the funeral of his ex-wife, where he meets his estranged daughter (Gwyneth Paltrow) and can't shake her desire to go on the road with him. The other hustler is Suzi Loomis (Maria Bello), a woman who literally prostitutes herself to get from gig to gig, until she meets up with a kind-hearted cabby (Scott Speedman). Then there's Todd Woods (Paul Giamatti), who gets so fed up with his sales job and being ignored at home that he hits the road, moving from karaoke bar to karaoke bar in a voyage of self-discovery. Along the way he picks up Reggie Kane (Andre Braugher), an escaped felon with a voice like an angel. All three couples end up in Omaha for the $5,000 karaoke finals. Chock full of bad writing and bad direction, the movie inspires a perverse fascination. Braugher and Giamatti chew up the scenery at every opportunity, but most interesting is the father-daughter incest subtext (compounded by the fact that the movie is directed by Gwyneth's dad, Bruce Paltrow). Eeeeesh. --Andy Spletzer Amazon.com

Good Job

Recieved item in a timley fashion and in great shape! Would use again and again! September 22, 2008

Quirky and Strange

For those of us who are completely out of the loop when it comes to Karaoke Culture, this film will clear up the confusion. This was a quirky film that had much to offer. Gwynneth Paltrow was well-directed by her dad. It must have been interesting for her to play a character establishing a relationship with her father while actually being directed by her REAL father. And who knew Huey Lewis could act? The only problem was Paul Giamatti, again playing a culturally dispossessed loser. Been there, seen it, done it, bought the T-shirt. And the resolution of his "duet" in the story was straining all believability. His buddy dies to save him from the moral responsibility of his own violent actions? No justice in that.

Otherwise, an enjoyable film on a part of American culture that has had little prior exposure in film. September 9, 2008

Better than the average music-oriented movie

You will never hear "Free Bird" the same way again after you've heard Andre Braugher in this movie.

With most movies that are musically oriented, you expect the equivalent of cotton candy. This is the kind of movie that you will think about years after you first see it. I know I have.

Besides, you've got Paul Giamatti doing his whacked out thing better than he does it in any other movie, including Sideways, Huey Lewis and Gwyneth Paltrow dueting on "Cruising" -- violence, romance, buddy banter, what's not to like?

Get this movie if you are interested in something a little deeper than just two hours to pass the time. April 12, 2008

entertaining...

I enjoyed the movie; it had great actors in it. Some people would say its not that great but if you want a "sit back and enjoy" -its really good. My favorite part of course is the duet Paul Giamatti does - Try a Little Tenderness - they did so well, they could have cut a record! I liked it. January 3, 2008

A little 2-dmensional, but the singing will knock your socks off!

"Duets" is what my cinematically aware friends call a "sleeper". Most people in my circle never heard of it, but when they see it, enjoy the heck out of it. What makes it great is (1) the singing and (2) the amazing assemblage of acting talent, including Gwyneth Paltrow, Paul Giamatti, Maria Bello. And Huey Lewis isn't bad, either.

The biggest flaws are Gwyneth's gangly, toothy, goody-two-shoes character; the contrived father-daughter conflict scenes between her and Huey; and his obligatory character change at the end, so they can sing the final duet together.

But who cares? The singing will absolutely blow you away. Gwyneth and Maria do their own, and they are fabulous, especially Gwyneth. What a set of pipes! She's the daughter of Blythe Danner, and inherited her vocal ability. (As far as a "who knew she could sing?" revelation, her performance rates right up there with Michelle Pfeiffer's in "The Fabulous Baker Boys".)

I'm not sure if Paul Giamatti did his own singing, but it sounds like him. Even if he's overdubbed by someone else, his singing performances are wonderful. The "Try a Little Tenderness" duet with him and Andre Braugher (dubbed) is to die for.

Get the DVD so you can watch the bonus features. If your player has the "angle" feature, it's fascinating to switch back and forth during the Huey-Gwyneth duet and compare the film version with the actual recording session. (I like her much better without makeup.) October 10, 2007

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