Double Whammy (2001)

A world-weary police detective who fails to stop a fast-food restaurant massacre struggles to regain his departmental reputation, public image and self-worth.

Director:

Tom DiCillo

Writer:

Tom DiCillo

Stars:

Denis Leary, Elizabeth Hurley, Luis Guzmán

2 wins & 4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Denis Leary	...	Ray Pluto
Elizabeth Hurley	...	Dr. Ann Beamer
Luis Guzmán	...	Juan Benitez
Victor Argo	...	Lt. Spigot
Chris Noth	...	Chick Dimitri
Donald Faison	...	Cletis
Keith Nobbs	...	Duke
Steve Buscemi	...	Jerry Cubbins
Maurice Compte	...	Jo Jo
Otto Sanchez	...	Ping Pong
Melonie Diaz	...	Maribel Benitez
Millie Tirelli	...	Yolanda
Kevin Olson	...	Ricky Lapinski
Joe D'Angerio	...	Detective Janks
Maurice G. Smith	...	Boover

Storyline

Ray Pluto is a detective with a problem due to the loss of his wife and daughter. One day, he is in a fast food place, and due to a pain in his back, he is not able to avoid a mass murderer of six people. A young boy uses his gun and kills the killer. He becomes a loser in the eyes of the police force and public opinion, and his partner convinces him to have a session with the chiropractor Dr. Ann Beamer. A complicated romance between them grows. Meanwhile, at least two other plots happen in the movie involving detective Pluto and other odd characters.

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Plot Keywords:

detective | chiropractor | police | apartment | new york city | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Crime | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language, violence, some sexuality and drug use

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

3 August 2001 (Portugal)

Also Known As:

Bad Luck

Filming Locations:

New York City, New York, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$4,000,000 (estimated)

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$74,926

Company Credits

Production Co:

Apostle, Gold Circle Films, Lemon Sky Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

93 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Denis and Elizabeth will be reunited in a film with an unsure title, DAWG or BAD BOY (2002).

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Goofs

When Ray and Ann are at his place for dessert, we see him coming out of the kitchen with ice cream. In the next shot, we see him sitting on the couch in the reflection on the TV. However, when we cut back to Ray, he is still in the process of sitting down.

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Connections

References Permanent Midnight (1998)

User Reviews

Storyline disconnect

"Double Whammy" provides a double whammy for viewers. The actors will lure you to view what is a collection of disconnected stories or the disconnected stories will leave you questioning the choices made by the actors. Either way, your mind will wander and leave no doubt as to how the film found its way into the bottom rack of video stores.

"Double Whammy" is a story about police detective Dennis Leary, toned down and showing some range. He lost his wife and daughter in an accident that, although we're never sure, led to him becoming the Dudley Do-Wrong of New York officers.

Or, the story might be about the bratty Catholic-school Latino daughter of Leary's apartment super who wants a tatoo really, really badly. Maybe the super's the story. Chiropractor Elizabeth Hurley is eye candy in a role made the former super-model the blue-light special to whom filmmakers turned to distract viewers. When nothing makes sense, the camera finds Hurley and we wonder how a woman with the attributes of Hurley's character would be attracted to a messed-up cop.

A bunch of colors thrown together don't make art. Putting Steve Buscemi in the film doesn't make this off-beat or an entertaining dark comedy.

Two stars...if I had five stars to give.