Duets (2000)

Director:

Bruce Paltrow

Writer (WGA):

John Byrum (written by)

Release Date:

24 November 2000 (Italy)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Music

Tagline:

Six lost souls in search of a little harmony.

Plot:

A professional karaoke hustler reconnects with his daughter and a bored suburban businessman turns outlaw karaoke singer, among other plotlines.

Plot Keywords:

Karaoke | Pub | Singing Contest | Drinking | Topless

Cast

Lochlyn Munro	...	Ronny Jackson
Carol Alexander	...	Beth the Hostess
Michael Rogers	...	Tulsa Bartender
Huey Lewis	...	Ricky Dean
Amanda Kravat	...	Redhead
Paul Giamatti	...	Todd Woods
Ian Robison	...	Sales Guy
Roger Haskett	...	Sales Guy
John Payne	...	Sales Guy
Scott Speedman	...	Billy
Tom Bougers	...	Desk Sergeant
Marian Seldes	...	Harriet Gahagan
Angie Phillips	...	Arlene
Steve Oatway	...	Ralph Beckerman
Erika von Tagen	...	Julie (as Erika Von Tagen)

MPAA:

Rated R for language and some sexuality.

Runtime:

112 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

USA:R (certificate #37116) | Iceland:12 | Argentina:18 | Australia:M | France:U | Germany:12 | Hong Kong:IIB | New Zealand:M | Spain:7 | UK:15

Filming Locations:

Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada

Company:

Hollywood Pictures

Trivia:

Brad Pitt was originally signed on to play the role of Billy Hannan, but after his engagement to Gwyneth Paltrow was called off, he dropped out of the movie. This also cause filming to be delayed from its original start date of September 1997.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Suzi Loomis wins the contest, she is holding the prize before the emcee gives it to her, then in the next shot, she is being handed the money by the emcee.

Quotes:

Liv: My mother didn't believe in mayonnaise. She didn't believe in food that requires electricity.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Saturday Night Live: Val Kilmer/U2 (#26.7)" (2000)

Soundtrack:

Keep On Rockin'

This movie is precious. It grows on you and won't go away.

I admit it -- I'm a total sucker for this movie for all of the right reasons, and some of the wrong ones (like, it's very touching to me that Bruce Paltrow made this movie with his daughter Gwyneth and died a year or so later). Having Huey Lewis in the movie and singing a few of his monster hits is a plus all by itself, and it turns out he can actually act decently. The Paul Giamatti - Andre Braugher duo, both in terms of plot, their excellent acting, and their blow-you-away singing performance, is something I never tire of seeing, and I've watched this movie five times and have it on disk. The plot is superficially pedestrian but actually very engaging and psychologically legitimate despite the displays of craziness by the characters. People do get crazy and do that kind of stuff. As for Gwyneth Paltrow, there seems to be no role she can't get into and occupy with beautiful effect.

This was never intended to be a Great Movie. It was a nice little story, made into a very fine, charming, stick-to-your memory movie with talent oozing out the corners. People who rate it mediocre are just not seeing the pearl for the oyster.