Love hurts: Ke Huy Quan takes on a high-octane Valentine’s Day thriller

For decades, Valentine’s Day was synonymous with romantic comedies—lighthearted tales of love, laughter, and serendipitous encounters. However, the landscape of holiday releases has shifted, and this year, audiences are getting an action-packed alternative with Universal Pictures’ Love Hurts, a stunt-heavy thriller starring Ke Huy Quan and Ariana DeBose.

The film, originally an old action script collecting dust for over twenty years, has been revitalized with a Valentine’s Day twist. With Jonathan Eusebio making his directorial debut, Love Hurts delivers intense fight sequences, brutal confrontations, and a darkly humorous edge. This isn’t your typical date-night film—it’s more of a blood-soaked rollercoaster, proving that love can sometimes be just as painful as a knife fight.

Ke Huy Quan, fresh off his Oscar win for Everything Everywhere All at Once, takes center stage as Marvin Gable, a Milwaukee real estate agent with a deadly past. Having left behind his life as a hitman, Marvin’s world is upended when he receives an ominous Valentine’s Day card from his former partner-in-crime, Rose (Ariana DeBose). Rose’s desperate plea for help pulls him back into the criminal underworld he thought he had escaped.

As if on cue, a formidable assassin known as “The Raven” (Mustafa Shakir) crashes into Marvin’s office, proving that the stakes are higher than ever. From this moment on, the film transforms into a relentless sequence of choreographed brawls, each more elaborate and visceral than the last. It all leads to an inevitable showdown with Marvin’s estranged brother and crime boss, “Knuckles” (Daniel Wu), whose thirst for revenge sets the stage for a final confrontation.

For fans of high-energy, stunt-driven cinema, Love Hurts delivers on its promise. With Eusebio’s background in stunt coordination on films like John Wick and Atomic Blonde, the fight choreography is the movie’s undeniable highlight. Quan, showcasing Jackie Chan-esque martial arts prowess, navigates each battle with agility and flair. The film also boasts an eclectic supporting cast, including Sean Astin in a brief but entertaining role as Marvin’s real estate mentor.

However, beneath the stylish action sequences lies a thinly stretched narrative. The script, written by Matthew Murray, Josh Stoddard, and Luke Passmore, struggles to elevate the film beyond its genre conventions. The dialogue often feels wooden, and the chemistry between Quan and DeBose is underwhelming. DeBose, though a standout talent, is confined to an underdeveloped femme fatale role that lacks depth.

While Love Hurts doesn’t break new ground in the action genre, it offers a refreshing alternative for audiences looking for something other than traditional romantic fare. With a tight runtime of 83 minutes, the film never overstays its welcome, making it a digestible, adrenaline-fueled experience.

For those who crave intense fight sequences and a break from convention, Love Hurts might just be the perfect anti-Valentine’s Day movie. However, if you’re looking for a compelling story or a film that fully capitalizes on its talented cast, this one may leave you wanting more.