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Have you ever wondered what happens when a former hitman swaps his weapons for house keys?
In "Love Hurts," Ke Huy Quan portrays Marvin Gable, a real estate agent with a dark history. Directed by Jonathan Eusebio, this action-comedy attempts to blend romance, humor, and high-octane fight scenes.
But does it succeed or fall short? Let's dive into this Valentine's Day-themed adventure and see if it's worth your time.
Brief
Recently, several films have approached the romance genre, particularly Valentine’s Day, in unique ways. Heart Eyes introduced a horror twist to the genre, while Love Hurts — also based around Valentine’s Day — bursts with action and expertly coordinated fights.
Helmed by Jonathan Eusebio and penned by Matthew Murray, Josh Stoddard, and Luke Passmore, Love Hurts is a film that is so poorly made it becomes enjoyable.
When we initially encounter Quan’s Marvin Gable, he’s an eager realtor who genuinely enjoys helping people buy homes. He's so skilled at his profession that he earns the regional realtor award for his contributions, a recognition that plays a surprising role throughout the film.
Plot Of Love Hurts
The storyline includes many elements, such as a subplot about Marvin's forlorn worker, Ashley (Leo Tipton), who develops feelings for The Raven (Mustafa Shakir), assigned to eliminate Marvin. Though I would venture to say that merely a few of them truly function. None of them receive sufficient emphasis, especially Love Hurts, which isn't attempting to evoke any feelings from us. We cheer for the characters as they are amusing and quirky. It is one of the best comedy movies with unpexpected twists, drama, and gripping story.
The overall storyline is logical, but exploring the narrative further would be futile. The filmmakers are aware of this, so they maintain a quick tempo for the narrative and include some action scenes to satisfy us. And indeed, they do. I just couldn't resist having an enjoyable time with the film's camp. The experience of viewing Love Hurts offers unrestrained pleasure. It's intentional in its narrative opulence, and the action sequences—skillfully designed and cleverly utilizing household items such as cookie cutters and refrigerators—mirror the actors' eccentric performances.
Love Hurts Twitter Review
LOVE HURTS is a massive dud. It’s surprisingly (for an action-centric film) boring, filled with endless pacing issues along with complete, tonal confusion; an overlong 83 minutes. The soundtrack & fight choreography are its most redeeming qualities. Ke Huy Quan deserves better pic.twitter.com/XTRnYDL3PA
— Tony Mosello (@MoselloATC) February 6, 2025
Ke Huy Quan’s Performance Steal The Main Limelight
Quan is always lovable, and that's the case here as well. The actor portrays Marvin with a genuine sincerity that made me instantly trust how deeply he valued his work and his efforts to build a new life for himself. Viewers will enjoy Quan’s exchanges with Sean Astin, who portrays Marvin’s supervisor, resulting in a delightful mini The Goonies reunion on screen. Shakir, a murderer who throws knives but has a tender side for romance, is equally remarkable. The actor's eyes convey a lot of emotion, and he excels at tapping into the humorous aspects of situations.
DeBose delivers the most dramatic performance among the cast, fully enjoying her character as she devours the scenery with enthusiasm and a humor that edges on awkwardness. One of the most incredible aspects of the film is the romance between Rose and Marvin, as the actors have no chemistry and their notable 19-year age gap is so apparent that I couldn’t help but notice it each time they interacted.
In "Love Hurts," Ke Huy Quan gives a heartfelt portrayal as Marvin Gable, an ex-hitman who has become a real estate agent. Despite his earnest portrayal, the film struggles with inconsistent tone and underdeveloped characters, making it a challenging watch.
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