Ke Huy Quan proves he’s more than just an Oscar-winning supporting player in Love Hurts, a fast-paced action-comedy that blends brutal fight sequences with sharp humor and quirky romance. Produced by David Leitch (John Wick, Deadpool 2) and helmed by stunt veteran Jonathan Eusebio in his directorial debut, the film takes a familiar love-on-the-run premise and turns it into a hilarious, blood-soaked rollercoaster filled with over-the-top action and unexpected comedic chemistry.
A Real Estate Agent with a Dangerous Past
Marvin Gable (Quan) has built a picture-perfect life as Milwaukee’s most successful real estate agent. His face is plastered across billboards, benches, and buses, his clients adore him, and he even bakes heart-shaped cookies for open houses. But when he receives an anonymous Valentine’s Day card from Rose (Ariana DeBose), a woman he once swore to protect, his well-curated world crumbles.
Years ago, Marvin was the top enforcer for his ruthless brother, Knuckles (Daniel Wu), a crime lord with a long memory and an even longer list of enemies. Marvin escaped the life of bloodshed to sell homes and start fresh, but Rose’s sudden reappearance puts them both in immediate danger. His old identity is exposed, his office is trashed, and suddenly, half the city’s deadliest killers—including a poetry-spouting assassin and a knife-throwing maniac—are hunting them down.
Explosive Action and Offbeat Humor
Much like his performance in Everything Everywhere All at Once, Quan expertly balances charm and intensity, making Marvin both an endearing everyman and a ferocious fighter. His action scenes, choreographed to perfection by Eusebio, highlight his agility and combat skills while leaning into his natural comedic timing.
Unlike most action heroes, Marvin doesn’t charge in guns blazing—he dodges, outsmarts, and uses his surroundings (including a cheese grater in one memorable sequence) to turn the tables on his enemies.
While Love Hurts delivers thrilling set pieces, it also thrives on its humor. The film’s comedic backbone comes from its wild supporting cast, including Lio Tipton as Marvin’s disinterested but unexpectedly resourceful assistant and Mustafa Shakir as a no-nonsense mercenary with a soft side.
One of the film’s best running gags features two bickering contract killers, played by Marshawn Lynch and André Eriksen, who pause between shootouts to exchange unsolicited relationship advice.
An Oddball Romance That Works… Sort Of
While marketed as a romantic action film, Love Hurts struggles slightly in the romance department. Quan and DeBose are both strong performers, but their chemistry never quite reaches a level of convincing romantic tension. Instead of a fiery, passionate connection, their dynamic plays more like an amusing partnership—one built on mutual survival rather than undeniable attraction.
That said, the film compensates for its lack of romance with its sharp writing and fresh comedic subplots. The most unexpectedly delightful love story doesn’t even belong to Marvin and Rose, but rather to Tipton and Shakir’s odd-couple pairing, which delivers some of the film’s most memorable and heartfelt moments.
Relentless Action, But a Few Plot Holes
At a brisk 83 minutes, Love Hurts never slows down. The film is packed with relentless action, hilarious banter, and inventive fight sequences that keep the momentum rolling. However, it does leave a few logic gaps in its wake—like why Marvin, with his face on nearly every ad in Milwaukee, doesn’t just leave town when things go south. Similarly, Rose’s motivations for staying in such a dangerous situation remain somewhat flimsy.
Additionally, the film introduces a secondary villain late in the game who feels like an unnecessary addition to an already packed roster of foes. While this extra antagonist doesn’t drag the movie down, trimming this subplot could have streamlined the storytelling without sacrificing any of the fun.
Verdict: A Hilarious, Action-Packed Crowd-Pleaser
Love Hurts isn’t a deep, soul-stirring romance, but it doesn’t need to be. It knows exactly what it is—a riotously entertaining action-comedy with a lovable lead, pulse-pounding fight scenes, and enough offbeat humor to keep audiences laughing. Quan proves he’s more than capable of carrying an action movie, and with a strong supporting cast and dynamic stunt work, the film is a wildly enjoyable ride.
