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Very disappointing...

Sadly Over-hyped

It's a movie as timely as it is provocative and amazingly, for much of its running time, it is weirdly funny.

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

Good film similar in structure to Love Actually. It has the same main plot issues in that each subplot does not get fully fleshed out, however, that is easily made up in the range of stories and subsequently, then number of viewers that can relate. To be honest, I believe the writers did well enough that most folks can easily relate to more than one of the subplots. There was some sub par acting, but those performances were carried by the expected excellence of Paul Giamatti and Andre Braugher. As fantastic as their performances were, they were not the sole reason it gets 8 out of 10.This film will make you feel; So, by rule, it gets 8 out of 10 stars.

... before he became a Vegas act.To be honest, this movie is one of those rare films which is remembered better as nostalgia (based on seeing when in came out in 2000) than when re-viewing (pardon the pun) some 14 years later.And if I can explain that oddness to you, I believe I can get to the nub, the heart, of DUETS. So I will try.The first time I saw it, I loved it. I recommended it. I made a mental note that this was a sleeper, a really nice little indie. I wanted to see it again.It took 14 years for me to get a chance to revisit the film but, on a second viewing, I was not that impressed at all. Here are my notes: * Paul Giammatti steals this film but that is hardly news, he pretty much steals every film he has ever been in, this script simply gives him more room to move * the part that Bruce Paltrow cast his daughter in is simply ... bizarre. There are many many ways to play a young girl who meets her wayward father late in life but somehow I don't think this is one of them. Gwen has never looked better and her looks actually distract from the role, aided and abetted by the director having her slink here and there whenever the chance presents itself. This is wrong on many levels.* the cameos are all interesting and the stories are all interesting but other than the aforesaid performance by Giamatti, they simply fall apart the longer the viewer has endure them.* on second viewing, I realized that what I liked so much about the film originally was the whole Karioke theme, that this theme has astonishingly been underplayed in movies (boy is that rare!) and it shouldn't be, because it has legs. The first scene in the script with Huey Lewis is the strongest with the most impact, and understand THAT IS NOT A GOOD THING because the story and the film go downhill from there.

Two of the best actors in the US, and my personal favorites as well. What can go wrong ? Well for one thing have the movie be a vehicle for Gwyneth Paltrow in the movie's most uninteresting storyline. If the script had just dropped that story about the lost "Dad" and fleshed out the other two stories a bit more then this movie would have been awesome. Its not that she is so bad at the singing or Lewis is an awful actor, but their story is just so boring and kliché... Still at least Giamatti and Maria Bello has since had a lot of good roles, now we just need more of Andre Braugher :-) Cant be long before we see a movie like this, just set in the world of competitive computer-gaming. That would be very weird indeed, but lets see if I am right.

duets - surprisingly dark comedy about the Karoake circuit-sure there are plot holes and some saccharine moments- but the Paul Giamati/Andre Braugher duo provide plenty of chuckles and even some touching moments- they had good chemistry - Giamati is going thru a major mid-life crisis and randomly picks up parole violator Andre Braugher - I am not doing their story justice- but I try to avoid spoilers.Maria Bello does an excellent job as a singer who bargains her way across the country using her body as collateral.A fun ensemble comedy- inconsistent but worth renting for the Giamatti/Braugher team.The DVD has a dry commentary by the director. B-