Duets (2000)

A group of disparate characters with an interest in karaoke ultimately find themselves in an Omaha, Nebraska karaoke tournament with a $5,000 prize. Among them: a hustler (Huey Lewis) who's just connected with the daughter (Gwyneth Paltrow) he never knew he had, a salesman (Paul Giamatti) who has a nervous breakdown and is high on meds, an ex-convict (Andre Braugher) just out of prison, a cab driver (Scott Speedman) and a promiscuous drifter (Maria Bello) who depends on karaoke winnings to survive. Directed by Bruce Paltrow (Gwyneth's father). I almost never use the term guilty pleasure because I feel no guilt about enjoying any kind of movie but if I did, DUETS would definitely be a guilty pleasure. I know it's not a good movie and I really should have some contempt for it but it's irresistible in its pull. With one exception, the performances are all solid and the musical sequences are very good too. Notably, a lovely duet on Smokey Robinson's Cruisin' by Paltrow and Lewis. The one poor performance is by Giamatti who can't seem to stop Acting all over the place. In his scenes with Braugher, Braugher blows him out of the water by giving a natural performance while Giamatti is Overacting with a capital O. All the actors do their own singing (and very well too) except for Braugher who is dubbed. With Angie Dickinson, Maya Rudolph, Michael Buble, Marian Seldes and John Pinette.