DUETS

Year: 2000
USA: Buena Vista Distribution
UK: Icon
Cast: Gwyneth Paltrow, Huey Lewis, Maria Bello, Andre Braugher, Brent Butt, Paul Giamatti, Tony Marr, Lochlyn Munro, Steve Oatway, John Pinette, Ian Robison, Maya Rudolph, Scott Speedman, Keegan Connor Tracy
Director: Bruce Paltrow
Countries: Canada / USA
USA: 112 mins
UK: 111 mins
USA Rated: R for language and some sexuality
UK Certificate: 15 contains infrequent strong language and some moderate sex
USA Release Date: 15 September 2000 (Limited Release)
UK: Release Date: 17 November 2000

Synopsis

DUETS is a road-trip film about six individuals who throw off the binds of their pre-determined lives and strive to fulfill their dreams. The metaphor for this is Karaoke ? the courage to stand up, sing and be free.

They are: a waitress Suzi (Maria Bello) from Wheeling, West Virginia desperate to get to California to become a recording star; Reggie (Andre Braugher), an ex-con unwilling to bend to the rules of society who sings with the voice of an angel; Todd (Paul Giamatti), a salesman who melts down while chasing the American Dream; Ricky Dean (Huey Lewis), a seasoned Karaoke hustler who is disconnected from everybody and everything; Liv, an innocent Vegas showgirl (Gwyneth Paltrow) searching for family and love; lastly a young down-on-his-luck cab driver, Billy (Scott Speedman). Each is searching for the meaning of life.

As they converge on the $5,000 Grand Prize Karaoke Contest in Omaha, Nebraska, their lives intertwine, revealing the funny, raucous world of Karaoke bars and chain hotels that link the interstates of Middle America.