PLOT: A realtor is pulled again into the life he left behind after his former partner-in-crime resurfaces with an ominous message. Together with his crime-lord brother additionally on his path, he should confront his previous and the historical past he by no means absolutely buried.
REVIEW: Should you’re a film lover, then likelihood is you had been rooting for Ke Huy Quan throughout final yr’s Awards season. Hollywood loves a comeback story and there are few extra deserving than Quan, who has numerous memorable facet roles and by no means bought that main man alternative. However now it’s time for him to take middle stage in his personal Jackie Chan-style motion film. And the way precisely does he fare? I’d say he comes out of it rather a lot higher than the film itself.
Love Hurts follows Marvin Gable, a realtor who’s life is turned the other way up when his previous comes again to hang-out him. Rose, a goal he was purported to handle, is now inflicting havoc and he has to contend along with his previous life. It’s a primary sufficient story and follows that typical “average man turns out to be a deadly assassin” trope popularized not too long ago by No person. It’s not breaking any new floor however I personally by no means go into these sorts of movies anticipating them to. Having a likable lead and a few good motion set items must be sufficient to fulfill any viewers member shopping for a ticket.
Ke Huy Quan actually nice as Marvin, and he’s not removed from the golden retriever we regularly see him play. Nevertheless it’s when the brand new life he’s constructed is clearly over that Quan shines. You’re feeling his absolute devastation as he watches the whole lot crumble round him. It’s this desperation that makes a few of his determination making rather less absurd. Ariana DeBose had a tough 2024 with Kraven the Hunter, however will get a bit extra to do right here. I wasn’t solely satisfied of her hand handy fight as she could be a bit sluggish however Rose is charismatic sufficient even when barely annoying. The age hole between her and Quan is definitely noticeable however they do their greatest to make it work. Simply looks like they may have gotten somebody a bit extra age acceptable.
Oddly sufficient, the charismatic Marshawn Lynch virtually will get outshined by his scene accomplice, André Eriksen who has a enjoyable arc involving getting his spouse again. I believe most of us anticipated Lynch to be his bigger than life self however he’s extra subdued right here. Although he does handle fun or two. We get a little bit of a Goonies reunion between Quan and Sean Astin but it surely’s sadly brief lived. Astin is nice because the jolly Texan boss of Marvin’s who has among the best scenes of the film. I wasn’t certain what to make of Daniel Wu’s Knuckles (although it’s laborious not to consider the Sonic character at any time when his title is alleged) however I believe that needed to do with a lot of his dialogue being changed in submit manufacturing. It’s not fairly Madame Internet villain ranges of unhealthy but it surely’s noticeable. No less than they didn’t do any bizarre AI voice match. And I’ve to offer point out to Property Brother’s Drew Scott, who has one of many funniest and out of nowhere moments within the movie.
The narrative for Love Hurts can really feel a bit all over. Marvin narrates a lot of the movie with these bizarre interludes from Rose that really feel a bit too expository. And we don’t actually get any satisfying payoffs exterior of some small character arcs. They don’t actually construct Marvin and Knuckles and their historical past sufficient to make any impression ultimately. There are some enjoyable scenes and I favored the characters, but it surely simply doesn’t come collectively.
Surprisingly, Love Hurts is extra targeted on its characters than its motion. Whereas the motion that we do get is sweet, it’s nothing we haven’t seen earlier than. The truth is, the motion appears like a little bit of a particular commodity, with it principally being performed briefly bursts and wrapped up cleanly. I hoped for somewhat extra of a showcase for Quan like in Every thing In all places All At As soon as, however as a substitute it feels extra like racing with coaching wheels. There’s one scene the place Marvin stabs a man repeatedly and I hoped we’d get extra like that but it surely’s principally primary slashing and stabbing and gunshots. The truth is, there are shockingly few deaths within the film which is bound to disappoint many who present up for the crimson stuff.
In the end, is Love Hurts the kind of film that can preserve Quan as a number one man? I’m unsure, however he’s definitely confirmed that he can deal with it. He’s very likable, does an awesome job with the motion, and nails the emotional moments. However he might should be extra selective along with his scripts as there’s nothing new right here, and feels prefer it may have been from a decade in the past. If there’s one factor I’ll take away from this expertise, it’s that I’ll by no means have a look at a Boba Straw the identical means once more.
LOVE HURTS IS PLAYING IN THEATERS ON FEBRUARY 7TH, 2025.
