Double Whammy (film)

2001 film by Tom DiCillo

Double Whammy is a 2001 crime comedy drama film written and directed by Tom DiCillo, and starring Denis Leary, Elizabeth Hurley and Steve Buscemi. Although intended to be released in theaters, it was ultimately distributed direct to video.

Ray Pluto is a New York City police detective who failed to stop a shooting spree at a burger joint because his back gave out and he fell. The suspect ended up being shot by a bystander, a young boy. The incident has made Ray a laughingstock in the city. He's also haunted by memories of his wife and child dying in a traffic accident. While Ray is put on limited duty until he is declared medically fit, he retreats to his couch to smoke marijuana, but is persuaded to seek treatment for his back by seeing Dr. Ann Beamer, a chiropractor. A romance blossoms between the two. Meanwhile, Pluto's partner, Detective Jerry Cubbins, has decided to come out of the closet. A variety of tenants live in Ray's West Side apartment building, including Cletis and Duke, two young men who want to write a Quentin Tarantino esque movie script, and rebellious teenager Maribel who hires thugs to kill her father Juan, who is also the super of the building. Ray discovers the plot on Juan and must get past his grief to prevent the murder.

Financing for the film was a difficult process for writer and director Tom DiCillo. Nick Nolte, Jeff Bridges, and Michael Keaton were all considered for the role of Ray, but DiCillo insisted on Denis Leary for the part. The film was released in France under the title "Bad Luck". David Rooney of Variety wrote DiCillo's "brand of offbeat humor provide enough charm to help weather the erratic [marriage] of suspense, black comedy and romance. DiCillo has fashioned a lightweight vehicle that never ventures confidently enough in any of those directions. While the material is not uproariously funny, it remains appealing thanks chiefly to Leary’s effortless charisma, guiding world weary Ray from despondency and humiliation to a point where he eventually can forgive himself for the past." TV Guide wrote, "Though the narrative thumps along like sneakers in a dryer, this offbeat crime comedy is a fine example of a film in which humor doesn't come at the expense of the characters.