Duets (2000)

20% of critics liked it
(89 reviews)
43% of users liked it
(10,292 ratings)

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 (Huey Lewis), for the first time at the funeral of her mother. As it turns out, both Liv and Ricky… More 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 (Huey 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

Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 52 min.
Directed By: Bruce Paltrow
Written By: John Byrum
Genres: Drama, Action & Adventure, Comedy

In Theaters: Sep 15, 2000 Wide
On DVD: May 8, 2001

Critic Reviews

Jay Carr, Boston Globe
The press notes say the director spent five years developing Duets. He should have developed it more.
Eleanor Ringel Gillespie, Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Substitute 'bland' for 'blonde' and you've got a pretty good description of [Paltrow's] movie.
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
Its fundamental error is that it tries to squeeze bittersweet heartbreak and goofy social satire into the same story. Just when the movie gets the rhythm, it steps on its own feet.
Mark Caro, Chicago Tribune
The joys of singing give the movie a hook, but when Duets aims for lyricism, it's got a tin ear.
M. Faust, Common Sense Media
A not very good adult movie about adult issues.
Cole Smithey, ColeSmithey.com
"Duets" is a frustratingly mediocre road movie that connects three unlikely pairs of people in the much maligned phenomenon of Karaoke singing as a metaphor for "finding the meaning of life" by sharing their interpretations of pop songs.
Michael Dequina, TheMovieReport.com
And the director's Oscar-winning daughter? Never did I ever think she could ever be so annoying.
Christopher Smith, Bangor Daily News (Maine)
I couldn't have karaoked less about it.
David Nusair, Reel Film Reviews
Duets does the impossible - it makes karaoke seem interesting.
James Sanford, James Sanford on Film
A strange combination of road movie, sitcom and "Razor's Edge"-style philosophical drama, "Duets" looks at six unhappy people who are brought together by their love of karaoke. Yes, karaoke.

Read all 10 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Anthony L

This was an unexpectedly sweet film, Paul Giamatti is great as always.
Leigh R

Not too shabby...
Alice S

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… More
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.
Sunil J

It's not great but it's very enjoyable.