IT takes two to tango, and in Duets that's Huey Lewis, rocker of the 80s, and Gwyneth Paltrow, Hollywood's queen for the 21st Century.

The story concerns a sextet of lost souls, searching for meaning among the ruins of their lives, who converge in Omaha, Nebraska, to take part in the $5,000 Grand Prize Karaoke Contest.

All have reasons for making the road trip and any one of them could, potentially, walk away with the top prize.

Among the hopefuls are hustler Ricky Dean (Huey Lewis) and his simple yet sweet daughter Liv (Gwyneth Paltrow), who craves the security of family and to be loved - two things which don't figure very highly, if at all, on her father's list of priorities.

There is also salesman Todd Woods (Paul Giamatti) and ex-con Reggie (Andre Braugher), who has a rap sheet from hell but sings like an angel. Finally comes West Virginia-born waitress Suzi Loomis (Mario Bello) who hopes to secure a free ride to Omaha by flirting with down-on-his-luck cab driver Billy (Scott Speedman).

Lewis is the only principal cast member with any professional singing experience and he shines in his solos, proving his voice has lost none of its power.

The real surprise is Paltrow, who can hold a tune rather well. She manages a passable rendition of the Kim Carnes anthem Bette Davis Eyes and then duets with her screen father on the Smokey Robinson classic Cruisin. Don't be surprised to see the track making a bid for chart glory in the near future.

Giamatti's version of Hello, It's Me and Bello's take on Bonnie Raitt's I Can't Make You Love Me pale in comparison, but Todd and Reggie's duet on Try A Little Tenderness hits the right notes.

Directed by Gwyneth's dad Bruce, the movie not only marks her big singing debut, but is also Lewis's first starring role.