| Duets | | Cast : | Andre Braugher, Paul Giamatti, Huey Lewis, Gwyneth Paltrow | | Director : | Bruce Paltrow | | Studio : | Walt Disney Home Video | | Format : | Color, Widescreen | | Released Date : | January 01, 2000 | | DVD Released Date : | September 02, 2003 | | Language : | English (Dubbed), English (Original Language) | | Audience Rating : | R (Restricted) | | | BUY THIS DVD FROM AMAZON |
Customer Reviews
| Rating |  | | Date | March 22, 2005 | | Summary | Underrated | Content
 | I thought this movie was wonderful and am surprised at the vitriolic critiques by reviewers. Gwynneth is always a great actress and she played the part of the daughter reunited with a reluctant father well. There were several subplots in this move, all involving wonderful singing and complex relationships.
Don't believe the critics on this one. It actually is an enjoyable movie, which is in turns funny, sweet and sad. |
| Rating | | | Date | September 10, 2004 | | Summary | Well worth seeing | Content
| Discovering this movie was a happy accident. I had heard the Gwyneth Paltrow/Huey Lewis duet "Crusin'" on the radio and tracked down the movie. It did not get much press, I don't think. I found it very enjoyable, and in watching the extras on the DVD, discovered that all the actors did their own singing with the exception of Andre Braugher. He and the character he pairs up with have the most memorable scenes in my opinion. Braugher is an excellent actor. When I tell people this movie is about karyoke they never want to see it. If I can convince them to watch it anyway, they are always glad they did. It is not really about karyoke anyway, it is about relationships, using karyoke as a backdrop. Discovering Gwyneth Paltrow's singing ability was an extra benefit. This is sort of a "feel good" movie, but it has serious moments as well. And some great comedy scenes thrown in as well. I fell in love with the movie and the soundtrack. |
| Rating | | | Date | July 25, 2004 | | Summary | Paul Giamatti Rocks | Content
| A far-out Paul Giamatti picks up a hitchhiking Andre Braugher and movie-magic is made. Then Giamatti sings his killer, heartfelt rendition of Try a Little Tenderness and you know Duets will permanently have a spot on your special shelf. Giamatti s feel for music is as sound as his feel for acting. Gwyneth Paltrow is my favorite actress because she's a serious character actress as well as a leading lady; as usual, she's both excellent and scary cute. Huey Lewis is a definite weak-spot -- even his singing sounds bad. But then there's the irresistable Scott Speedman and equally hot Maria Bello and you forget all about dumb Huey.
Go ahead, rent it. |
| Rating | | | Date | May 02, 2004 | | Summary | American Idol? | Content
| I saw this movie only after buying the sountrack. The song Cruisin' attracted me and I had to buy the whole CD to get the one song. When I eventually saw the film, I liked it more simply because I was already familiar with the music. If I didn't know the songs, I may not have liked to movie as much because Karaoke and stars-in-the-eyes wannabe crooners in the boondocks don't really inspire me. Overall, I enjoyed it - certainly more than watching American Idol, the only other show I can compare it to in terms of showcasing aspiring performers. |
| Rating | | | Date | November 29, 2003 | | Summary | one outta three | Content
| Of the three stories this movie gives us about people brought together around the world of Karaoke (in pairs, thus "Duets") - one absolutely kills me (in a good way) - and for it I give the movie five stars. That is when Paul Giamatti's Todd Woods has a marvelous life-altering breakthrough/breakdown, realizing that his life, as situated in the so-called American dream (which he makes several interesting comments on after he has wigged out, like how America has turned into a land of strip malls) - is rather empty and meaningless. Such a mid-life existential crisis is not exactly uncommon, but it is his portrayal of this, the exhuberance of that performance, that makes the hair stand up on the back of my neck even after watching it for the third time. And the ending of that story, although not completely satisfying and a little far-fetched, it quite something, too. As for the other two stories, one I would give maybe three stars (Gwenyth Paltrow and Huey Lewis doing their father/daughter thing - her beautiful voice in "Cruisin'" would merit all three of those stars but little else), and the final story leaves me so cold and works so poorly that I fast-forward right through those parts. I love the music in this movie. I'm not sure if all the actors sing, but if not it is expertly dubbed. Great choice of songs, great performances of those songs. Despite the inconsistency of the quality of the three stories, this is an unusual, fun, interesting movie with a lot of heart and a lot of spunk and great music, that should not be forgotten (rip Bruce Paltrow). And ultimately, for me, its all about Paul, Paul is my boy. See it to see that performance, people. I don't think you'll be disappointed. |
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