Ke Huy Quan takes the lead in “Love Hurts” as Marvin Gable, a cheerful real estate agent whose past as a hitman resurfaces with deadly consequences. Directed by stunt coordinator-turned-filmmaker Jonathan Eusebio, the film promises high-octane action and dark humor but ultimately falters due to a lack of strong direction, pacing, and character depth.
From the outset, “Love Hurts” revels in its elaborate fight choreography and over-the-top violence. The action is relentless, with weapons ranging from boba straws to cookie cutters adding a brutal yet absurd touch. While these set pieces showcase Eusebio’s stunt expertise, the film struggles to balance its comedic elements with its action, leading to a tonally inconsistent experience.
A Star-Studded Cast with Limited Impact
Despite its shortcomings, “Love Hurts” boasts an impressive cast, including recent Oscar winners Ke Huy Quan (“Everything Everywhere All at Once”) and Ariana DeBose (“West Side Story”). Quan delivers a commendable performance, smoothly transitioning between his affable real estate persona and skilled fighter. However, his character is weighed down by awkward voiceovers that fail to add meaningful depth.
DeBose, unfortunately, is given little to work with. Her character, Rose Carlisle, is a stereotypical femme fatale clad in leopard-print coats, whose motivations remain vague. Supposedly killed after a deal gone wrong, Rose returns to reclaim her life—and possibly Marvin—though their chemistry leaves much to be desired. Her ultimate goal? To eliminate Marvin’s crime lord brother, Knuckles (played by Daniel Wu, whose defining trait seems to be menacingly sipping boba tea).
Supporting actors add brief sparks of entertainment, notably Sean Astin as Marvin’s real estate boss—an apparent nod to “The Goonies”—and former NFL player Marshawn Lynch, who continues to prove his comedic prowess. However, the ensemble largely feels like exaggerated caricatures rather than fully realized characters.
An Action Film Lacking a Clear Vision
Despite comparisons to “John Wick” and “The Fall Guy,” “Love Hurts” struggles to match their energy and coherence. While David Leitch, a prominent figure in modern action cinema, is credited as a producer, his influence is not enough to elevate the film. The script lacks polish, the editing fails to enhance comedic beats, and the overarching vision feels muddled.
The film also attempts to tie into a Valentine’s Day theme with various subplots about love—such as a poetry-loving thug and another henchman trying to win back his unseen wife—but these feel forced rather than integral to the story. The recurring line “hiding ain’t living” is meant to underscore Marvin’s internal conflict, but it never fully resonates.
A Hollow Spectacle
While stylized action and a promising premise give “Love Hurts” some appeal, it ultimately lacks substance. The artificiality extends beyond its aesthetic; much like the glossy, showroom-style houses Marvin sells to eager buyers, the film may look good on the surface but feels empty upon closer inspection. As a result, “Love Hurts” lands more like a flashy but forgettable trailer than a fully developed cinematic experience.
Verdict: “Love Hurts,” a Universal Pictures release, hits theaters this Friday. Rated R for strong, bloody violence and language throughout, the film runs for 83 minutes. Rating: 1.5 out of 4 stars.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
- Venus L Peñaflorhttps://tutubi.ph/author/venusp/
- Venus L Peñaflorhttps://tutubi.ph/author/venusp/
- Venus L Peñaflorhttps://tutubi.ph/author/venusp/
- Venus L Peñaflorhttps://tutubi.ph/author/venusp/
