Duets (2000)

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

Director:

Bruce Paltrow

Writer:

John Byrum

Stars:

Huey Lewis, Gwyneth Paltrow, Paul Giamatti

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Lochlyn Munro	...	Ronny Jackson
Carol Alexander	...	Beth the Hostess
Michael J Rogers	...	Tulsa Bartender (as Michael Rogers)
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)

Storyline

Duets is a road-trip comedy which revolves around the little known world of karaoke and the whimsical characters who inhabit it. There's the struggling singer who dreams of making it to the big time, a frustrated salesman who ends up on an unexpected road trip, the dysfunctional family performers which includes a con-artist and his long lost daughter, and an escaped convict with the voice of an angel. All roads lead to Omaha, site of a national karaoke competition where this motley group of singers and stars come together for a blow-out sing-off.

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Plot Keywords:

karaoke | singer | convict | salesman | one word title | 

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Taglines:

Six lost souls in search of a little harmony.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Music | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language and some sexuality

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

15 September 2000 (USA)

Also Known As:

A dúo

Filming Locations:

Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada

Box Office

Budget:

$15,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$2,002,588, 17 September 2000, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$4,734,235, 29 October 2000

Company Credits

Production Co:

Hollywood Pictures, Seven Arts Pictures, Beacon Communications

Technical Specs

Runtime:

112 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Michael Buble' is a karaoke singer in the final contest at the end of the movie.

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Goofs

When Reggie returns the pistol he dropped in the car, to his holster, it is on the left. When Todd grabs his gun in the hotel, it is on his right.

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Quotes

Shop Manager: How'd you like to pay for that? Cash, check, credit card?
Suzi Loomis: Uh, well, we're a little short on money right now, sir, but I'll consider it an honor and a privilege to suck your dick.
[machinery whirs over last word]

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Connections

References Sweet Bird of Youth (1962)

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Soundtracks

All In Good Time
Written and Performed by Danny Donnelly
Courtesy of Be Nice Records

User Reviews

Guilty pleasure.

I often wonder why I watch so many movies, and why I love them so. It isn't because they often explore new territory or challenge my intellect, but then there's a whole public library and a Barnes and Noble in every strip mall for that. No, I think it must be the escapist delight of allowing myself to be absorbed for a couple of hours in a well-crafted imaginary world where unbelievable things happen to unrealistic people. It's a guilty pleasure, but hey, sometimes I eat my dessert first. I can handle the guilt.

With that said, as guilty pleasures go, this dessert is a banana split for two with extra nuts and cherries. And one spoon. Huey Lewis and the incomparable Gwyneth Paltrow are a father daughter team trying to get acquainted on the karaoke circuit. He's a karaoke hustler (who knew) and she's a third generation Las Vegas showgirl who is at once worldly and naive.

Paul Giamatti is a shocker. He's amazing as the frustrated salesman who's out "for a pack of cigarette." Along the way, he encounters Reggie Kane (Andre Braugher) a convict on the lam whose quiet desperation is a stark contrast to Giamatti's wanton abandon.

Maria Bello is hilarious as the resourceful bohemeian chasing a dream of big money. Angie Dickenson graces the scene with a tasty cameo. And then there's the singing. OK, Todd Rundgren isn't worried about Giamatti's rendition of the classic "Hello it's Me", and Andre used a voiceover, but Gwyneth can really sing, and her duet with Babyface in the closing credits is a chart-topper in anybody's book.

Directed by Gwyneth's dad Bruce, in his first feature since graduating from the small screen, the word "Duets" describes this enjoyable film in more ways than one. But in the end, the duet that matters is just you and this wonderful little film.