Ke Huy Quan's film "Love Hurts" has generated a mixed-to-negative response from critics, highlighting the prominent child star's attempt to establish himself as a leading man once more. Set against the backdrop of Valentine’s Day, the action-comedy features Quan as Marvin Gable, a seemingly affable real estate agent with a violent past.
Released on February 7, 2025, "Love Hurts" marks Quan's first significant lead role following his Oscar-winning performance in "Everything Everywhere All at Once." Directed by Jonathan Eusebio and co-written by Matthew Murray, Josh Stoddard, and Luke Passmore, the film features notable actors like Ariana DeBose and Daniel Wu alongside Quan.
The tone of the film aims to blend humor with action, as viewers follow Marvin's efforts to detach himself from his criminal background. Described as charming and sweet, its Valentine’s theme attempts to explore various forms of love—romantic, familial, and self-love—yet critics feel this aim falls short due to overly familiar tropes.
According to Variety, the narrative centers around Marvin's life as he bakes heart-shaped cookies and lists homes, all the time concealing his brutal past as his brother, Knuckles (played by Wu), draws him back to violence through threats and familial loyalty. This familiar plot—akin to numerous past stories where the ordinary person is pulled back to their old life—somewhat undermines the film's potential. The review notes, "The biggest issue with 'Love Hurts' can be described as balance problem," indicating the film struggles to maintain its tone.
Several critics have complimented Quan’s performance, noting his inherent charm and likability. The film's action sequences, especially one choreographed from inside kitchen appliances, showcase his physical capability. One review stated, "Even as the movie drags, even as he’s forced to hit the same emotional beats over and over again… he is graceful, vulnerable, and capable of some seriously impressive action acting." This points to the duality of Quan's character: as someone who must confront his past tied to violence, yet embodies the positivity of his new life.
Nonetheless, many critics expressed dissatisfaction with the film’s pacing and character development, particularly the sidelining of DeBose's character, Rose, who is both integral to Marvin’s past and supposed to be the film's romantic interest. IndieWire commented on the apparent lack of chemistry between Quan and DeBose, stating, "Marvin and Rose have friendly, cute chemistry, but they don’t carry much romantic spark," implying the film fails to flesh out their emotional connection.
Critics also pointed out significant plot holes and implausible narratives, such as how Rose managed to live unnoticed after faking her death, finding her residential mailbox to be... too convenient. Reviewers from multiple outlets remarked on the film's shortcomings, asserting, "If your action film starring a beloved Hollywood star… mostly feels like an exercise in iffy screenwriting, there’s something very wrong here." This echoes the criticism about the lack of substantial storytelling overshadowing the action-oriented moments.
The film's reliance on humor also received scrutiny, with some seeing it as inconsistent and awkward. Commentators noted moments of potential comedy, like the rival real estate agent played by Drew Scott or the romantic subplot involving Tipton’s character with assassin Mustafa Shakir—these often felt underdeveloped yet engaging.
According to multiple reviews, the overall experience of "Love Hurts" felt like it flew too close to familiar action clichés without freshening the tropes it claims to subvert. Notably, one review concluded, "Love Hurts feels like it most has its swing back, and... the appeal of the cast is enough to make it a reasonably pleasant time at the movies," highlighting the film’s underwhelming execution of its promising premise.
Overall, "Love Hurts" seems to grapple with its identity as both action and romantic comedy, resulting in mixed reviews. While Quan's performance manages to captivate audiences and reflects his remarkable return to the spotlight, the film appears too limited and predictable, not fully capitalizing on its comedic and action potential. The expectations were high for his next project post-Oscar win, but the execution was marked by mediocrity according to most evaluations. With criticisms aligning across multiple reviews, it is evident the film may not entirely resonate with audiences as hoped.
Though "Love Hurts" attempts to blend charm, action, and romance within it, there remains speculation about what Ke Huy Quan's next project might hold. After this flick, audiences are eager for something to match his capabilities, longing for his full potential to be realized on-screen once again.