Duets

Duets

Year: 2000

Runtime: 112 min

Language: English

Director: Bruce Paltrow

Budget: $21M

DramaComedyMusic

A group of eccentric individuals sets out to compete in Omaha's karaoke championships, with a $5,000 prize at stake. The group includes Ricky Dean, a charming con man looking to reconnect with his daughter Liv, and Todd, a weary salesman hoping for a fresh start. As they journey toward the competition, their individual struggles and vulnerabilities are revealed, creating a funny and heartwarming story about second chances and finding connection.

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Timeline & Setting – Duets (2000)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Duets (2000). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Location

Las Vegas, New Mexico, Utah, Cincinnati, Omaha

The story follows a cross-country circuit of karaoke bars across the United States, from small-town venues to the climactic national contest in Omaha. It passes through scenes in Las Vegas, New Mexico and Utah, with stopovers in Cincinnati before converging in Omaha. The setting emphasizes intimate performances where music acts as a catalyst for personal revelations and changes.

🎭 Road trip 🎤 Karaoke 🗺️ Cross-country

Last Updated: November 22, 2025 at 15:31

Main Characters – Duets (2000)

Meet the key characters of Duets (2000), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Ricky Dean

A karaoke circuit hustler who travels from town to town, feigning ambivalence toward karaoke while consistently winning contests and side bets. His arc shifts when he reconnects with his daughter Liv in Las Vegas, forcing him to decide whether to abandon his con or become a real father. He ultimately invites Liv to perform a duet of her mother's favorite song, seeking genuine connection over winning.

🎤 Karaoke 💰 Hustle 🧭 Road trip

Todd Woods

A depressed California salesman exhausted by travel who drifts away from his family and slips into dangerous behavior after falling in with a karaoke participant offering beta blockers. His mental state deteriorates as the journey unfolds across New Mexico and Utah, testing his resolve and threatening his chance at redemption.

🧠 Mental health 💊 Substances 🛣️ Road trip

Billy

A Cincinnati-based cab driver and falling-away priest figure who teams up with Suzi Loomis, ferrying her between towns where she competes in karaoke contests. His skeptical, world-weary outlook clashes with Suzi’s vagabond pragmatism as they chase opportunities on the road.

🚕 Road trip 🎭 Karaoke 🧭 Journey

Suzi Loomis

A broke drifter who survives on karaoke contest prizes and survival-based favors. Her volatile dynamic with Billy pushes them forward through towns, while her struggle with stage fright comes to a head during the Omaha showdown, where she must perform despite fear.

🎤 Karaoke 🕊️ Stage fright 💃 Survival

Last Updated: November 22, 2025 at 15:31

Major Themes – Duets (2000)

Explore the central themes of Duets (2000), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🎤 Karaoke & Connection

Karaoke serves as a social bridge that connects strangers and family alike. Through song, characters reveal vulnerabilities, confront past mistakes, and seek belonging on a shared stage. The Omaha contest becomes less about winning and more about honest expression and reconciliation across miles and differences. Music binds people who would otherwise drift apart.

💔 Family & Reconciliation

Ricky Dean's reunion with his daughter Liv initiates a personal journey toward responsibility and forgiveness. Todd Woods's withdrawal from his family contrasts with the life-affirming pull of kinship encountered on the road. The trip forces every pair to confront what they owe their loved ones, often under the pressure of performance.

⚖️ Consequences & Redemption

The journey is punctuated by risky choices and their consequences, culminating in a volatile confrontation that reshapes several lives. Reggie Kane's actions trigger a police response, highlighting the cost of bravado and crime. Amid the chaos, some characters find a path back to family and honesty, while others face irreversible outcomes.

Last Updated: November 22, 2025 at 15:31

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Duets Summary

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Duets Summary

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Duets Timeline

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