It's hard to classify Double Whammy, mainly because Double Whammy seems to have trouble classifying itself.
It's certainly part comedy - history repeats itself to a farcical extent for Ray, and his effeminate partner (Buscemi) offers some laughs - but it slings in the tragedy with a bravado that sits uneasily with its light tone. No less than six innocent people are killed in the first apparently comic sequence, and we're soon informed that Ray is bereaved of both wife and daughter in traditional cop thriller style.
But there are precious few thrills to be found in a subplot that sees a daughter planning her own father's murder, as the characterisation is far too skimpy to give credence to such an emotionally complex storyline. A romance between Ray and his chiropractor (Hurley) is inoffensive enough, but veteran indie director DiCillo is at his most comfortable with quirky observational dialogue and inventive action. The scene where the screenwriter neighbours finally receive their true-crime inspiration is a delight.