Love Hurts (Review)
Ke Huy Quan’s Oscar win in 2024 was a triumphant moment, and naturally, many were eager to see what he would do next. Seeing “Academy Award Winner” next to his name in trailers for future projects feels right as you can see fans say online, a testament to the love and respect he has earned over the years. From his early days in The Goonies to his long-overdue recognition as an adult, his career resurgence has been widely celebrated—and rightfully so. That’s why I want to be clear—what I’m about to say has nothing to do with him personally.
I was excited for Love Hurts the moment I saw the trailer. That excitement doubled when I learned it came from the same team behind Nobody and Violent Night, two films I thoroughly enjoyed. And just when I thought I couldn’t be any more eager, I saw who was in the director’s chair—Jonathan Eusebio, the stunt coordinator behind not only those films but also modern action hits like John Wick. With a résumé like that, how could I…or anyone not be excited? Especially as a genre fan.
But as I watched the film, my initial excitement began to fade. What started as a smile slowly disappeared as the film played out. With a brisk runtime of just 83 minutes, Love Hurts should have flown by. Instead, it felt more like a two-hour slog, weighed down by a story that never seemed to go anywhere. But maybe I’m getting ahead of myself.
The film follows Marvin (Ke Huy Quan), a Milwaukee realtor who receives a crimson envelope from Rose (Ariana DeBose), a former partner-in-crime he once left for dead. Now, he’s thrust back into a world of ruthless hitmen and double-crosses, where his open houses become deadly war zones. Hunted by his own brother—a volatile crime lord—Marvin must confront the choices that haunt him and the past he never truly buried.
On paper, the plot sounds fantastic—hence my initial excitement. A quirky realtor who also happens to be a world-class hitman, suddenly pulled back into his old life? That sounds like a blast! Sign me up! But once the film gets going, it struggles to figure out what it wants to be. One of its biggest issues is the pacing—oddly sluggish despite the short runtime. The film can’t seem to settle on a tone. Is it serious? Comedic? Tragic? It tries to juggle too much at once, resulting in scenes that don’t connect with the audience the way they should. Jokes are said that just don’t land because they feel so forced. A few do, but none that are memorable.
Ke Huy Quan and Ariana DeBose in Love Hurts (Universal Pictures)
On top of that, the character development is arguably weaker than the overall story. While the film attempts to establish a badass backstory for Marvin, it never provides real depth or insight into his past life. We’re told he left Rose for dead because his brother ordered him to kill her—but beyond that, there’s little meaningful exploration of his history. Similarly, the film repeatedly mentions Rose as Marvin’s brother’s "valentine," yet it never clarifies what that actually means. Were they in a relationship? Was she just another pawn in his schemes? So many moments leave the audience questioning how these details fit into the larger narrative—yet none of it is ever fully explained.
I understand how difficult it is to be an actor—to find a character and sell the performance. But in Love Hurts, only Ke Huy Quan and Marshawn Lynch seem genuinely excited to be here. Lynch, clearly enjoying his retirement from the NFL while trying to break into movies, has a few jokes that land. Quan, as always, brings his signature charm and infectious energy. The problem is that the filmmakers don’t give his character much to do. And when the lead lacks purpose, the supporting cast suffers even more. Their roles feel underdeveloped, offering little to enhance the story or deepen the world. As a result, everything just feels empty—like a film going through the motions without anything meaningful to latch onto.
Ke Huy Quan and Marshawn Lynch in Love Hurts (Universal Pictures)
The cinematography is serviceable for the most part, but given the talent behind the camera, it’s hard not to feel disappointed. With a stunt coordinator responsible for some of the best action films of the last decade at the helm, I expected dynamic, well-crafted sequences. Instead, some shots feel surprisingly amateurish. The editing is similarly inconsistent—some moments are sharp and effective, while others feel disjointed or poorly executed.
In the end, Love Hurts was a letdown—a pretty big one, if you ask me. I went in expecting to have a blast, ready to laugh and enjoy a wild ride. But what we got was a mediocre story, plenty of action, and little to no character development—ultimately causing the film to fall flat.That said, I’m still looking forward to seeing what this team does next. Hopefully, next time, they’ll bring a stronger story to complement the action.
SCORE: 2.5/5
Love Hurts is in theaters Friday, February 7.
