Nothing Much to Sing About

“Duets” is six characters in search of a movie. Any movie will do, and a lot are tried: a tedious road picture, a joyless comedy, a toothless social satire, to name a few. The only aspect of “Duets” that is successful is its singing, which not only sounds good, but keeps all that other nonsense off the screen.

Directed by successful TV producer Bruce Paltrow (“St. Elsewhere,” “The White Shadow”) and co-starring his daughter Gwyneth, along with Maria Bello, Andre Braugher, Paul Giamatti, Huey Lewis and Scott Speedman, “Duets” is set in the world of karaoke, where the music is famous but you’re not. At least not yet. “You get to be the star for three minutes,” one devotee says. “It’s a rush like you wouldn’t believe.”

Having six people simultaneously trying to find themselves and win the $5,000 Grand Prize Karaoke Contest in Omaha is a legitimate concept for a film, but as written by John Byrum, whose credits include underachievers like “Mahogany” and “Sphinx,” it ends up a lifeless screwball comedy that is neither screwy nor funny.

In addition to its other shortcomings, “Duets” is awfully slow in getting going, and it seems like forever before all six characters--quasi-losers and lovable misfits every one--are introduced and tidily matched off into nonromantic pairs.

Glimpsed first is Ricky Dean (Lewis), a practiced karaoke hustler (admit it, you didn’t know the profession existed) and habitual rolling stone. Eventually he hooks up with Liv (Paltrow), a long-limbed Las Vegas showgirl who is noticeably short on family connections.

Billy Hannon (“Felicity’s” Scott Speedman) is a saintly underachiever who wanted to be a priest but ended up driving a cab. Naturally, he is matched with Suzi Loomis, young, attractive and willing to trade any sexual favor you can think of to advance her singing career. Suzi is played by the always-involving Bello, and it’s a mark of how soporific this production is that even her usual high energy can’t successfully shake things up.

The third pairing is the most problematic. Reggie Kane (Braugher) is an armed and dangerous ex-con who’s never found an outlet for his fine voice. He gets connected with Todd Woods (Giamatti), a traveling salesman so wired he’s never sure what state he’s in.

Ignored by his family on the rare occasions he’s home, Todd goes on an extended walkabout and turns into a childish, self-indulgent troublemaker whose sour and violent rants about the American dream not working anymore sound suspiciously like writer Byrum wants us to take them seriously.

In addition to continually saying “I’m supposed to be out buying a pack of cigarettes” like it was funny, Todd is also involved in the film’s two violent sequences, set pieces that, according to trade reports, delayed “Duets’ ” release. The scenes have been greatly trimmed, but they still feel like they belong in a different movie. If ever a film miscalculated its effects, it’s this one.

The only bright light in “Duets” is that the singing its stars do is quite pleasant. It’s no surprise that Lewis, front man for Huey Lewis & the News, can handle songs like “Feeling Alright” and “Lonely Teardrops,” but hearing Paltrow singing “Bette Davis Eyes,” Bello doing “Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)” and Giamatti and Braugher (with some help from Arnold McCuller) belt out “Try a Little Tenderness” are almost the only pleasures this film has to offer.

Though “Duets”’ characters are forever saying karaoke is a way of life, we never really feel that or see it on screen. In fact, the film’s attitude becomes so who-cares it neglects to wrap up its biggest plot point. But the truth is, by the time “Duets” faces the music, hardly anyone is going to care.

* MPAA rating: R, for language and some sexuality. Times guidelines: mild but unexpected violence.

‘Duets’

Maria Bello: Suzi Loomis

Andre Braugher: Reggie Kane

Paul Giamatti: Todd Woods

Huey Lewis: Ricky Dean

Gwyneth Paltrow: Liv

Scott Speedman: Billy Hannon

In association with Seven Arts Pictures and Beacon Pictures, a Kevin Jones production, released by Hollywood Pictures. Director Bruce Paltrow. Producers Kevin Jones, Bruce Paltrow, John Byrum. Executive producers Lee R. Mayes, Neil Canton, Tony Ludwig, Alan Riche. Screenplay John Byrum. Cinematographer Paul Sarossy. Editor Jerry Greenberg. Costumes Mary Claire Hannan. Music David Newman. Production design Sharon Seymour. Art director William Heslup. Set decorator Lesley Beale. Running time: 1 hour, 53 minutes.

In general release.