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Average ‘quirky’ comedy thriller from writer-director Tom DiCillo – it doesn’t quite work but it’s better than the words “Elizabeth” and “Hurley” might lead you to expect.

Double Whammy is the latest film from indie writer-director Tom DiCillo (Living in Oblivion, Johnny Suede).

Loser Cop Misses Bust

It stars Denis Leary as detective Ray Pluto, who is branded “Loser Cop” after his bad back stops him from preventing a shootout in a fast food joint. However, things look up when he falls for his chiropractor, played by Elizabeth Hurley (No, wait! Come back! Etc.)

Meanwhile, trouble of a different sort is brewing in Ray’s apartment building, as the daughter (newcomer Melonie Diaz) of the building’s superintendent (Luis Guzman) takes a hit out on her father and the only witnesses are two dumb Tarantino wannabes (Donald Faison and Keith Nobbs) who are holed up in their apartment trying to write a crime thriller.

Double Whammy isn’t quite the film it could have been, but as quirky crime comedy-thrillers go, it’s actually not that bad. There are some amusing gags and Leary makes a decent, even likeable lead, reigning in his trademark bitterness and sarcasm for once.

Similarly, while you couldn’t accuse Hurley of actually acting, the two of them make a surprisingly appealing onscreen couple.

The main problem is that it’s not quite funny enough to be a comedy nor exciting enough to work as a thriller. Also, it completely wastes Steve Buscemi as Pluto’s slightly effeminate partner. Still, it’s just about worth seeing if your Hurley Tolerance is up to it.