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Love Hurts Review
Image Credit: Universal Studios
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Directed By: Jonathan Eusebio
Written By: Matthew Murray, Josh Stoddard, and Luke Passmore
Runtime: 83 minutes
MPA Rating: Rated R for strong/bloody violence and language throughout.
Ke Huy Quan – Marvin Gable
Ariana DeBose – Rose Carlisle
Mustafa Shakir – The Raven
Lio Tipton – Ashley
Daniel Wu – Alvin “The Knuckles” Gable
Cam Gigandet – Renny Merlo
Marshawn Lynch – King
André Eriksen – Otis
Rhys Darby – Skippy Betts
Sean Astin – Cliff Cussick
Drew Scott – Jeff Zaks
Fresh off his recent Oscar win, Ke Huy Quan takes the stage in a new action-comedy star vehicle, Love Hurts. First-time director Jonathan Eusebio and Quan certainly bring some energetic action sequences throughout this bloody, R-rated romp, but it features an all-too-clunky storyline anchored by an underwhelming romance focusing on Quan’s ex-gangster-turned-realtor, Marvin Gable, and Oscar winner Ariana DeBose’s femme fatale, Rose Carlisle.
Quan stars as the jovial, mild-mannered realtor, Marvin Gable. Marvin loves his job and treats his coworkers like family. Unfortunately, Gable once lived a very different life, working as an enforcer and hitman for his mobster brother, Alvin Gable, aka Knuckles (Wu). The inexplicable arrival of Rose Carlisle (DeBose), back in town during Valentine’s Day weekend, is bad news for Marvin, who supposedly had killed her off in his last job. Now, Knuckles and his hitmen are gunning for Marvin and Gable, and Marvin must struggle to rectify his past life, which threatens to upend his new one.
The main highlights of Love Hurts are featured in the impressive action sequences. As an experienced martial artist and stunt choreographer, Quan brings an undeniable charisma and energy to his unconventional fight scenes. First-time director Jonathan Eusebio, who is also an experienced stunt coordinator and fight choreographer, showcases the action set pieces with an exciting effervescence. As an 87North production, the action and fight sequences are always reliably fun. Unfortunately, the film suffers from a slapdash, flimsy plot that never truly comes together.
Most of the movie hinges around Marvin and Rose’s tragically unfulfilled romance, which led to Rose going on the run and Marvin breaking away from his gangster family roots. The film and the actors simply fail to sell the romantic angle, including the reason why Marvin is willing to risk everything for Rose. Similarly, DeBose’s Rose fails to come across as someone worthy of Marvin’s affection and love since she spends most of the movie acting mildly psychotic, roping Marvin into her schemes.
The rest of the plot pays minor lip service to some nonsense about stolen money and a conspiracy within Knuckles’ criminal organization. The subplot results in an elaborate reveal in the final act, but the script does not spend enough time on it to adequately execute the sequence. The film fails in its attempt to present the reveal as an intricate, complex mystery. The criminal conspiracy makes the plot of Love Hurts far too overwrought when it should primarily focus on Marvin and Rose fighting to obtain freedom.
Quan’s fight scenes represent an impressive culmination of his personal history as a stunt coordinator and fight choreographer. The action scenes amusingly mix the deadly criminal underworld clashing against sunny suburban life. They focus heavily on Quan performing much of his own fighting and stunts, which is always welcome in any action movie.
Love Hurts features an amusing Goonies reunion, with an appearance by Sean Astin as Marvin’s folksy Texan boss. Astin’s brief screen time presents a much more compelling relationship with Quan’s Marvin Gable since the two are brothers by choice and not by blood. Knuckles later resents that relationship in one of the film’s more tense, suspenseful moments. The brotherly angle plays out like another lost narrative opportunity. It’s hard to root for Marvin to get together with Rose due to all the chaos and mayhem she creates, especially when Marvin is supposed to be madly in love with her.
At a length of 83 minutes, Love Hurts provides a relatively quick viewing experience. The film is not utterly devoid of charm, thanks to the energy and charisma Quan brings to the fight sequences. However, despite the title and Valentine’s Day-themed elements, romance is where Love Hurts is most lacking.
