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Maria Bello, Andre Braugher, Paul Giamatti, Huey Lewis, Gwyneth Paltrow ... see more see more... , Scott Speedman , Marian Seldes , Kiersten Warren , Angie Phillips , Angie Dickinson , Lochlyn Munro

Director Bruce Paltrow teams with his Oscar-winning daughter Gwyneth Paltrow for this road comedy with music. Paltrow plays Liv, a struggling professional singer whose meets her father, Ricky Dean (Hu... read more read more...ey Lewis), for the first time at the funeral of her mother. As it turns out, both Liv and Ricky supplement the income from few-and-far-between gigs by singing in karaoke contests, and soon father and daughter are competing on the same circuit. Meanwhile, Todd Woods (Paul Giamatti), a salesman who has grown disenchanted with his job, his family, and his life, picks up a hitch-hiker named Reggie Kane (Andre Braugher), and during a stop at a tavern, they discover they make a good duet team while belting out a version of "Try A Little Tenderness." And waitress Suzi Loomis (Maria Bello) sweet talks Billy (Scott Speedman), a cabbie, into driving her to Omaha, where the national karaoke finals will determine who does the best job of singing along with the records, as the lives of these six characters begin to intersect. Duets also features Angie Dickinson as Blair, Liv's grandmother who was once a showgirl in Frank Sinatra's Las Vegas floorshow; Brad Pitt was originally cast in Speedman's role but withdrew after he and Paltrow announced the end of their off-camera relationship. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Flixster Users

43% liked it

10,290 ratings

Critics

20% liked it

89 critics

R, 1 hr. 52 min.

Directed by: Bruce Paltrow

Release Date: September 15, 2000

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DVD Release Date: May 8, 2001

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Stats: 435 reviews

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Duets Duets Gwyneth Paltrow in Duets Gwyneth Paltrow and Scott Speedman in Duets Scott Speedman and Maria Bello in Duets Duets
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Flixster Reviews (435)

  • SirPant
    September 23, 2009
    SirPant
    This was an unexpectedly sweet film, Paul Giamatti is great as always.
  • dreamfaeries
    September 24, 2008
    dreamfaeries
    Not too shabby...
  • aliceinpunderland
    January 12, 2008
    aliceinpunderland
    Road movie with lofty goals. What's up with Scott Speedman's zen/emo character? He doesn't even sing. There are just too many loose ends left untied. Paltrow and Lewis' "Cruisin'" and Giamatti and Braugher's voice double's "Try a Little Tenderness" are fantastic.
  • SunilJawahir
    October 25, 2008
    SunilJawahir
    It's not great but it's very enjoyable.
  • MichelleasaurusRex
    October 18, 2008
    MichelleasaurusRex
    Great movie. Fast forwarded mostly all the singing though. Very fun to watch. Scott Speedman and Gwyneth Paltrow were awesome. This movie was really interesting. Pretty good.
  • vrtualme
    June 5, 2007
    vrtualme
    Wanna see some great actors try to sing, and one great singer try to act? Watch the charming comedy Duets (2000). Bruce Paltrow directs his daughter Gwyneth Paltrow (academy award winner for Shakespeare in Love 1998), and a few others, through the gypsy life of competition karaok... read moree singing. Sharing the stage are Paul Giamatti (academy award nominee for Cinderella Man 2005), Maria Bello (A History of Violence 2005) and Andre Braugher (from the series Homicide: Life on the Street); all doing a better job than you would imagine using their own voices. A singer once told me that anyone could be a good singer; you just had to find the right music to suit your voice. Huey Lewis also joins the team, rounding out the cast nicely. And while all the characters are played out to extremes, it?s still a heartwarming and cute tale.
  • tigress11671
    May 15, 2007
    tigress11671
    confusing with changing storylines had to watch it the second time to get it. Then it was good. Huey Lewis an asset.
  • Chappaquiddick
    May 10, 2007
    Chappaquiddick
    Apparently EVERYone's heard of this movie except me - the only reason I rented it is 'cause of the incredibly gorgeous & stunningly talented Maria Bello. So imagine my surprise when I found out that Paul Giamatti's in it, too (and kicks everyone's ass in the acting dept., as usua... read morel). Well, now that I've found & seen it, I love it, and I highly recommend it to you and your lovely mother.
  • FilmChic3175
    April 12, 2007
    FilmChic3175
    Paul Giamatti is a shocker. He's amazing as the frustrated salesman who's out "for a pack of cigarettes." maria Bello is hilarious as the resourceful bohemian chasing a dream of big money. Huey Lewis could make it as an actor and Gwyneth Paltrow could make it as a singer. This fi... read morelm has tons of heart and soul!
  • burkhardtse
    March 20, 2007
    burkhardtse
    You're gonna fly away
    Glad you're going my way
    I love it when we're cruising together
    Music is played for love
    Cruising is made for love
    I love it when we're cruising together

View All Duets Reviews

Critic Reviews

Jay Carr
January 1, 2000
Jay Carr, Boston Globe

The press notes say the director spent five years developing Duets. He should have developed it more.

A.O. Scott
January 1, 2000
A.O. Scott, New York Times

Every so often a movie comes along that's bad in such original and unexpected ways that it inspires an almost admiring fascination. Full Review

Bob Graham
January 1, 2000
Bob Graham, San Francisco Chronicle

OK, it got to me. Full Review

Kevin Maynard
January 1, 2000
Kevin Maynard, Mr. Showbiz

A talented acting ensemble and some show-stopping musical numbers make the film an intermittently irresistible entertainment.

Christy Lemire
January 1, 2000
Christy Lemire, Associated Press

There are too many characters, subplots and themes going on at the same time, so it's hard to connect with any of them.

Stephanie Zacharek
January 1, 2000
Stephanie Zacharek, Salon.com

It sometimes sings off-key, but at least it sings proud. Full Review

Glenn Lovell
January 1, 2000
Glenn Lovell, San Jose Mercury News

Disjointed, contrived and about as plausible as a karaoke singer with a scholarship to Juilliard.

Jay Boyar
January 1, 2000
Jay Boyar, Orlando Sentinel

Watching Duets, you sense the small-screen calculations in John Byrum's script.

Eleanor Ringel Gillespie
January 1, 2000
Eleanor Ringel Gillespie, Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Substitute 'bland' for 'blonde' and you've got a pretty good description of [Paltrow's] movie. Full Review

Philip Wuntch
January 1, 2000
Philip Wuntch, Dallas Morning News

Duets will be most appreciated by music buffs. The actual karaoke scenes attain the bounce that's missing from the rest of the film. Full Review

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Duets Trivia

  • This 80's Rocker had cameos in Back to the Future, Sphere, and played a starring role in the film Duets.  Answer »
  • What song did Gwyneth Paltrow and Huey Lewis sang in the movie Duets?  Answer »
  • in the movie walk the line how many duets do johnny cash and june carter sing together  Answer »
  • In the movie High School Musical who was the actor that sang the duets with gabrielle?  Answer »
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