Every month there’s a holiday marketers are eager to capitalize on. Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, and it’s no shocker that we’re starting to see a bunch of love-themed movies popping up in every genre. My friend Vince just reviewed the slasher horror rom-com Heart Eyes and this time we’ve got a Valentine-themed thriller comedy Love Hurts.
The main appeal for me is Ke Huy Quan in his first-ever starring role in a major studio picture after 40 years in the business. Quan is now an Oscar winner thanks to his dynamic performance in Everything Everywhere All At Once. His friendly and vivacious demeanor is in full display here as he plays a Milwaukee-based realtor Marvin Gable whose past catches up with him. It’s the oldest trick in the book for action movies: the protagonist tries to live a normal life but gets pulled back into the life he left behind when former [insert relation here] resurfaces. In this case, it’s a mysterious woman named Rose (Ariana DeBose) who sends him Valentine-themed messages.
At 53, the Vietnamese-born Chinese-American actor has worked as a stunt choreographer. Similarly, director Jonathan Eusebio’s main background is stunts/fight/martial arts coordinator in some of the biggest action movies like John Wick, Black Panther, Doctor Strange, and Violent Night, among others. The movie’s production company 87North Productions, co-owned by David Leitch who also got his start in stunt work, specializes in action thrillers. Thus, this is not a movie one watches for the plot, as it’s made up of 90% fight scenes and 10% narrative. The story basically serves as a transition from one action set piece to another. Perplexingly, it takes three writers (Matthew Murray, Josh Stoddard, and Luke Passmore) to write the script.
It doesn’t take long before Marvin is visited by one goon after another, sent by his own brother Knuckles (Daniel Wu) whom he used to work for. Wu is an underrated action star who deserves better material as he’s got action skills as well as a screen presence. He can be funny and menacing at the same time, as evident in the exchange between him and Marvin’s boss Sean Astin (marking a brief The Goonies reunion). Let’s just say I won’t be able to see a Boba Tea straw the same way again after this.
I wish Wu had more screen time here, alas, we see more of his goons in action. They range from a taciturn poet with killer knife fight skills called Raven (Mustafa Shakir), a dull but cocky hothead (Cam Gigandet) to a bonehead pair of besties (former NFL player Marshawn Lynch and André Eriksen) who bicker constantly. Even one of the Property Brothers’ twins somehow got roped into having a silly cameo.
Multiple flashbacks tell us why Knuckles is after Marvin and wants Rose dead. For someone wanting to disappear, you’d think it behooves him to move to an entirely different city or state? Instead, he remains in Milwaukee and chooses a profession where his face is splattered all over town [shrug]. The choice of a real estate theme might be a cost-saving measure for the studio, letting Eusebio stage the action mainly indoors.
The fight scenes are intense and violent but like in the John Wick movies, they’re not too bloody or gory. The tone is always droll and lighthearted. I have to admit I laughed pretty hard when the baddies use pieces of home decor items as weapons and the fact that Marvin is still in realtor mode amid the crazy action. “Don’t worry, I’ve got someone who can patch this up like new!” He assures the couple of buyers who hide in the laundry room as the living room is being torn to pieces.
I do appreciate the short running time of 1 hour 23 minutes but somehow it still feels longer than it is. The romance barely registers as there’s no chemistry between Quan and DeBose, no matter how much she flirts with Marvin. The one involving Marvin’s assistant (Lio Tipton) and Raven is only cute for the first 30 seconds but gets more pointless as it goes on. No amount of heart-shaped cookies/decorations, etc. can make you believe in the incredulous love story.
Action fans might enjoy the plethora of fight scenes as Quan goes fully Jackie Chan, clearly the filmmakers are fans of the Chinese action legend. Some of the scenes are shot with interesting perspectives (from inside the fridge, microwave, etc.) and at one point the fight actually happens inside a fridge. The sequences aren’t as inventive as Leitch’s Fall Guy though, likely because this one only has an eighth of its budget.
As much as I’m glad that Quan finally got his name listed first on the call sheet, it’s a bummer that the movie wastes his potential. Fellow Oscar-winner DeBose made the most of what she’s given, but it makes me wince when all it’s required out of her is to strut around instead of acting. Let’s hope Quan gets another chance to lead another movie after this, and he picks a much better script that utilizes his acting chops.
What do you think of LOVE HURTS? Let’s hear it!
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FLIXCHATTER FILM BLOG 
It sucks that this is a bummer as Ke Huy Quan deserves better. So does Ariana Debose and Sean Astin.
Yeah everyone deserves better, especially the two Oscar winners! It was cute to see the Goonies reunion of Quan and Astin though, Goonies really never say die!
I remember seeing a trailer of this one a while back and it looks just like every other generic action movies that came out the last few years. I totally forgot about it too! It’s not something I would pay to see in theater but I’ll give it a watch when it hits streaming.
Unfortunately for Quan, this movie’s failure will keep him from getting more starring roles. He’ll probably be the token Asian guy in other movies, especially big budget ones. If this one turns out to be a big hit, then he’ll get his shots at other movies. But it’s very unlikely because I didn’t know this movie was coming out this weekend and the studio didn’t spend any money promoting it.
It’s still entertaining for action fans so I’d say wait for streaming. It’s less than 90 minutes so it won’t be a total time waster.
You’re right Ted, I think if this one tanks, there will be way fewer opportunities for Quan to lead another movie. It’s really too bad, but that is why actors of color have to be extra careful in choosing their roles. I sure hope he’d at least get some prominent roles and maybe lead a tv series or something.
Unfortunately, that’s the predicament of actors who don’t have credibility in that town. They have to accept whatever roles they were offered, they can’t be choosy because they don’t get offers to be a lead in movies that often. If they turned down a lead role, they may not get another offer. Producers and studio heads would tell them that they haven’t proven anything and if they don’t accept that role that were offered to them, they’ll offer it to someone else. As you know, there are tons of hungry actors and actresses in Hollywood.
Heck, even if a non white actor has proven to be successful, he or she still don’t get that many offers. I remember Chris Tucker was in high demand after Rush Hour became a box office sensation. But Tucker was offered the usual role for black comedians and he wanted to star in more meaty dramatic films. But never got those offers and he only came back to be the lead in the Rush Hour sequels. He only appeared as a side character in dramatic films.
Yeah you’re right Ted, Quan probably wasn’t offered a plethora of leading roles to choose from like other white actors would if they win awards. I think the idea of this movie sounds good on paper so I guess I can’t blame him for choosing this one.
I think Chris Tucker got really cocky after his success with Rush Hour, and I think he wanted more money too. In any case, he seems to slowly make a comeback. He was memorable in AIR movie, so perhaps he might get more roles again outside of the RH franchise.
I don’t know how much clout Quan still have left in Hollwood but I think he should pursue roles in streaming TV series. Or if he’s very talented, pitch something to Netflix, Amazon or Apple TV+. Series with Asian leads does better than movies because the series can be seen worldwide, while for movies, it costs studios tons of money to release it in theaters all over the world.
I think every actor gets cocky once they have a huge box office hit picture and will always want more money for their next project. For Tucker he was offered mostly comedic roles. Most of them went to Martin Lawrence after he passed on those roles. Lol! He wanted something more serious but those roles went to either Denzel or With Smith.
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Hmm, it might hurt to watch it.
Knuckles??? Hahahahahaha! Yet, it’s not a comedy.
I like it when you don’t like a movie. The truth hurts, but you make it funny.
Thanks Ruth!
Yeah, they never explains why his name is Knuckles. They might as well call him Boba as he drinks Boba Tea so much, it’s as if that’s how he derives his strength from. Mwahaha! Thanks Resa, glad my review entertains you 🙂
Hahahahahaha!
Boba Knuckles! Hahahahahaha!
That would be the most appropriate name, I think!! 😀 The actor playing him, Daniel Wu, is great however, just need more of him in the movie! 😉
😂🤣
Happy Valentine’s Ruth! 🌹💘🌟❤️
Same to you, happy Galentine’s Day! 💖🫶🌹💘🌟