MOVIE OF THE WEEK (2/7/25): LOVE HURTS

"I'm just here so I can punch your face!" Real estate agent (and former hitman) Marvin Gable (Ke Huy Quan) dodges an attack by King (Marshawn "Beastmode" Lynch) in a scene from director Jonathan Eusebio's action romantic comedy LOVE HURTS. Credit: Allen Fraser/Universal Pictures © Universal Studios. 

WATCH THE TRAILER HERE:

KEY CAST MEMBERS: Ke Huy Quan, Ariana DeBose, Daniel Wu, Marshawn Lynch, Lio Tipton, Mustafa Shakir,  André Eriksen, Rhys Darby, Cam Gigadnet with Drew Scott

DIRECTOR: Jonathan Eusebio

THE BACK STORY: Marvin Gable (Academy Award winner Ke Huy Quan) is living his best life. He's got a successful real estate practice, he's got a nice home in the Milwaukee suburbs and everyone likes him, even his assistant Ashley (Lio Tipton) despite her obvious depression. Unfortunately, Marvin also has a past - a past that involved spending many years working under his brother Alvin (Daniel Wu), a.k.a. Knuckles, a criminal for whom he served as his top hitman. Marvin does have to contend with rival realtor Jeff Zaks (Drew Scott), who's black belt approach to real estate is one he takes quite literal.

As it turns out, Marvin had one last job to complete before trying to leave the past behind: Murdering Rose (Academy Award Winner Ariana DeBose), who, alongside Renny (Cam Gigadnet) and Kippy (Rhys Darby), robbed Knuckles of $4 million. But since Marvin is in love with Rose, he just couldn't do it. That's a problem because once Rose resurfaces, so does Marvin's past ... And that means Knuckles, Renny, Renny's would-be clean-up crew Otis (André Eriksen) and King (Super Bowl champion Marshawn "Beastmode" Lynch) – not to mention the mysterious, knife-wielding Raven (Mustafa Shakir) are all on the hunt for he and Rose. 

So what happens when a seemingly mild-mannered real estate agent is forced back into his old fatal ways? A lot – which is why Marvin is about to learn what they mean when they say LOVE HURTS.

 

THE REVIEW: 

After watching LOVE HURTS, a fellow critic and friend said two things, one of which I agreed with and another I did not. First, LOVE HURTS is definitely a film that, if this were 20 some odd years ago, Jackie Chan would have most definitely been feature in the lead role. That is not a knock to Ke Huy Quan, who is both believable in during the fight sequences and its mild-mannered moments due to the extensive fight training he underwent prior to filming. The point that I disagreed with is that Huy Quan deserves better, almost making it seem like the film was somewhat beneath him given its live-action cartoon nature. 

Instead, I would argue that LOVE HURTS showcases a nice range of Huy Quan's abilities, proving he can play an identifiable everyman with the ability to excel in an action film in addition to comedy or drama. While the film likely won't find it's true appreciation until hitting the streaming/home video market for a variety of reasons, LOVE HURTS isn't a film that proves Huy Quan deserves better; it's a film that once again proves he is worthy of more opportunities in larger roles. He is the film's center in both its comedic and action-centered moments, a considerable achievement considering he is featured alongside one of HGTV's Property Brothers as well as the national treasure that is Lynch. 

Is LOVE HURTS a cinematic classic? Not at all. Is it a fun watch that you will likely enjoy more than you expect? Yes it is ... And in a world where the serious nature of chaos around us is seemingly worse every day, that may be the film's greatest gift. 

OVERALL RATING (OUT OF FOUR POSSIBLE BUCKETS OF POPCORN):