Duets (2000) 2 stars out of 4. Starring Gwyneth Paltrow, Paul Giamatti, Andre Braugher, Huey Lewis, Scott Speedman, Maria Bello and Angie Dickinson. Written by John Byrum. Directed by Bruce Paltrow. Rated R.
When the performers are on stage, "Duets" soars. But when this uneven movie follows its performers offstage it is transformed into a discordant, cliched, mess.
This episodic comedy-drama lacks direction and cohesion as it follows three plotlines that converge on the stage in Omaha, Neb., for the $5,000 Grand Prize Karaoke Contest.
The most intriguing story involves Todd Woods (Paul Giamatti), a driven salesman who suffers a meltdown while chasing the American Dream, who chucks it all to go on stage and sing, and his connection with Reggie Kane (Andre Braugher), an ex-con with the voice of an angel who is unwilling to follow society's rules.
When these two performers are on screen - and on stage - "Duets" is magical.
Unfortunately, the film's other stories are weak sisters. One involves a Karaoke hustler (Huey Lewis) who is saddled with the daughter he hasn't seen in years. She's a Las Vegas showgirl (Gwyneth Paltrow) who wants only to belong to a family.
The other story involves Suzi Loomis (Maria Bello), an earthy waitress who sees winning the contest as a stepping stone to a musical career and is willing to do anything to attain her goal. She hooks up with an idealistic cab driver, Billy (Scott Speedman), whom she convinces to drive her to Omaha.
Unfortunately, director Bruce Paltrow (Gwyneth's father) cannot get screenwriter John Byrum's script to gel. It is fragmented and jagged, never coalescing into one coherent story.
Plus the mixture of schmaltz, drama and comedy never comfortably adhere.
Gwyneth Paltrow's character, Liv, is very unfocused and ill-defined. She acts like a naive, almost simple, child, chasing dad Ricky Dean (Lewis) around like a hurt puppy.
Bello's Loomis is too self-centered to care about, while Speedman's Billy is too idealistic to be believed.
And while Giamatti's Woods is a bit over the top, he is the one character you can root for and make an emotional connection with. You feel his pain and disillusionment.
Braugher's character, while interesting, seems a bit too sketchy and his ultimate sacrifice seems more a plot contrivance.
But the movie's best moments are the ones involving the music. When these characters are on stage - whether singing themselves or via voice doubles - "Duets" shows signs of greatness.
If you like good music, "Duets" is a movie you should see, despite its many flaws and shortcomings.
It is too bad that the care and attention lavished on the musical numbers could not be transferred to the other parts of the film.
Bloom is the film critic at the Journal and Courier in Lafayette, IN. He can be reached by e-mail at bloom@journal-courier.com or at bobbloom@iquest.net. Reviews by Bob Bloom can be found on the Web at the Internet Movie Database: http://www.imdb.com/M/reviews_by?Bob+Bloom
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