Universal Studios
Rewatching Love Hurts for this review, I completely stand by my original stance that Love Hurts is just what I need right now.
Best actor Oscar winner Key Huy Quan plays Marvin Gabe, an unimposing and sweet, motivated realtor who, when we are introduced to him, is prepping his next home viewing.
Fresh-baked cookies await the prospective buyers as Marvin shows the would-be homeowners their new home.
Little does Marvin know, but his world is about to be completely upended into chaos when his supposedly dead, former partner, Rose, returns, played by fellow Oscar winner, Ariana Debose.
Marvin’s former life as a brutal hitman for his brother’s mob organization is about to smash its way back into the peaceful life Marvin created after escaping his bloody past.
What follows is a non-stop fury of action sequences, existential discoveries, bromances, and reunions. Throughout the mayhem are these lovely and hilarious pauses of sweet reflection by various characters, as well as some unexpected romantic happenstances.
Some of the storylines work better than others but overall none of them ever really detract from the overall enjoyment of the film.
It is Ke Huy Quan’s sincerity and heart that make this bonkers film work.
You forgive the preposterous story, every cockamamie situation, and all the ludicrous dialogue, because Quan’s Marvin sells it like the character he plays, sells houses in this film, with his heart.
This film knows exactly what it is: unapologetically ridiculous and fun.
I am 100% here for it.
The Renaissance of Ke Huy Quan gives me life. His recent continued success is so well deserved. I always wondered what his career would’ve looked like had he continued acting through the 90s and early 2000s. I can only imagine that he would have just become another “straight to video” action star and then really completely disappeared forever. I think his “retirement” and his prolonged 20+ year long “break” from acting makes this comeback story so extraordinary.
As we all know, it was his Oscar-winning performance in 2022’s Everything Everywhere All At Once that marked the return of who I truly believe is the heir apparent to the Indiana Jones franchise. And it thrills me to see that he is back and back for good.
With the country completely on fire, the hostile government takeover by the fascist regime set up by tiny hand Shitler continuing, what better way to forget it all for 83 glorious minutes, than by indulging in this well-made, witty kung fu, romantic, action comedy?
Stunt/fight coordinator turned director, Jonathan Eusebio, has successfully created a well-honed and fast-paced, goofy kung-fu romance.
Love Hurts benefits from stylish and kinetic camera work that knows how to hold on a fight sequence to let the actors showcase their skills. The comedy is perfectly timed, and both verbal and visual jokes land with expert timing.
Extras are plentiful with an alternate ending, deleted scenes, and featurettes.
This is a beautiful, unplug your brain, grab your snacks of choice, and sit back to enjoy this stupidly wonderful film.
In the best tradition of the Saturday afternoon Kung-Fu Theater TV shows, Jackie Chan martial arts spectaculars and John Wick shoot ’em ups meet Richard Curtis rom-coms.
Romance and bloody, bloody action. Two great tastes that taste great together.
Love Hurts is exactly what we need.
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