Love Hurts – A Simple Yet Somewhat Effective Action Comedy

Now a few years removed from his Oscar-winning effort in Everything Everywhere All At Once, Ke Huy Quan returns to theatres with the 87North production Love Hurts, helmed by stuntman turned director Jonathan Eusebio. Undoubtedly one of their films, producer David Leitch’s signature brand of comedy can be felt all over the film, while Eusebio continues off his brand rather than that of another former stuntman turned director, Chad Stahelski. This influence tends to work in the films favor, making for a light and entertaining experience, and with a running time of only 83-minutes, at least any minor annoyances and issues that may come up never linger for too long. That being said, leaning too much into the comedy takes from the action, the result is a film which struggles to find the fundamental balance that is so integral to the success of a genre fusion like this.

From the film’s opening frame, the tone is fully established, fully embracing its Valentines Day setting and leading ability of Ke Huy Quan. Quan stars as Marvin Gable, a former hitman turned real estate agent now enjoying a life of blissful simplicity. This is until his past begins to crawl back to him through the emergence of Rose (DeBose) and his brother and former crime boss Alvin ‘Knuckles’ Gable (Daniel Wu). The collision of his two lives forces Marv into an identity crisis, leading him to face his past while fighting for his future. The film is rounded out by a supporting cast highlighted by the performances of Sean Astin and Marshawn Lynch. Aside from the Goonies nostalgia, Astin’s presence here is sweet and likable despite his limited screen time. Lynch, on the other hand, is simply playing himself and it works like a charm, contributing heavily to the film’s 14A/R rating through his rampant swearing. Meanwhile, he delivers in the action sequences as Eusibio takes advantage of his size and football background.

Knuckles, although underdeveloped, has a few scenes which present him as exactly the type of villain the film needs, with some darkness amidst all the lighthearted comedy was much needed. The film, however, suffers from a lack of his presence, although Wu appears throughout the film, it could have used a bit less exposition and comedy and instead, substituted that for more time with the film’s villain and its better supporting roles. The film’s plot is simple and inoffensive much like the film itself, making for a worthwhile narrative, though not one that will linger with audiences long after the credits roll. As is the case with many films, the narrative is a means to structure and present action to audiences while telling a narrative and in that Love Hurts succeeds, it is an entertaining story that succeeds in its simplicity, setting the stage for creative action set pieces and inconsistent comedy.

Eusebio’s debut, however, delivers where fans of 87North would want it to, the action is well choreographed, violent, and swift. And with the film’s short runtime, the action never runs too long but is physical and entertaining when it’s there. Quan has star value in spades, and it shows here. As Marvin, he is effortlessly likable and gives his all to the action sequences while shining the brightest in the films dramatic and comedic moments. Unfortunately, his frequent scene partner, DeBose’s Rose, continues a downward trajectory with yet another unremarkable performance, partly due to her character’s tendency to dump exposition with the kind of delivery that leaves much to be desired. Though she delivers in the film’s action sequences, thanks to Eusebio’s guiding hand, it feels like she was miscast in the role.

At the end of the day, Love Hurts is simply a fun night out at the movies, one which has a great leading role with some fun performances littered throughout, and is well complemented by its action and spurts of effective comedy. The film’s secret weapon  is its running time of only 83-minutes, as it allows for the film’s best elements to stand out more than its worst, all amounting to a solid debut feature Eusibio. Quan’s future in the genre is exciting and here’s to hoping that his burgeoning relationship with 87North could lead to even better films down the pipeline. Perhaps a return to his Taiwanese era of action would be a treat for action fans.

still courtesy of Universal Pictures

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Brad Simon

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