Valentine’s Day is often the season for heartwarming romance, but the new film Love Hurts flips this on its head, presenting viewers with what many believe to be a painfully misguided action comedy. The movie, directed by Jonathan Eusebio and featuring Oscar winners Ke Huy Quan and Ariana DeBose, ventures far beyond the expected love story, drawing on various genres but failing to find its footing. Starting off with bold themes of love, it quickly dives deep, but many critics argue it never truly recovers.
Love Hurts thrusts viewers directly to Milwaukee, where realtor Marvin Gable (Ke Huy Quan) leads dual lives: one thriving as a friendly property specialist, and the other embroiled in the violent past of his former life as an assassin. This stalemate is disrupted when his old flame, Rose (Ariana DeBose), presumed dead, reappears. Trouble follows her, bringing chaos to Marvin’s otherwise mundane existence.
Critics have noted the film's warm and sunny portrayal of February, which feels out of place. The opening promises magic on the holiday, but instead, it sets the stage for confusion and tonal shifts. The movie’s narrative pushes forward but does not give enough backstory to Marvin's past, leaving audiences puzzled. Even as Marvin waxes poetic about the “expectation of the unexpected,” the film fails to provide any lasting emotional investment.
Ke Huy Quan, celebrated for his role in Everything Everywhere All at Once, brings charm and sincerity as Marvin. His character, oscillates between vulnerability and violence but falls flat for many viewers who found it difficult to connect with such contradictory aspects. While Quan’s comedic timing shines through, some critics suggest he lacks the menace required to convincingly portray his character's dark history and skills as an assassin.
DeBose's performance as Rose is equally noteworthy, but reviewers feel the chemistry between her and Quan never truly ignites, leaving romantic elements lacking depth. Rather than building excitement for their reunion, the film veers too far from emotional authenticity, opting instead for shallow gags and physical comedy.
Despite its action-comedy premise, Love Hurts features some impressive fight sequences, drawing inspiration from classics like those starring Jackie Chan. A standout scene showcases kitchen utensils transformed creatively as weapons. The film thrives during these moments, but they often feel disconnected from the overarching storyline, leading to periods of jarringly lighthearted action followed abruptly by darker tones.
Indeed, the tonal inconsistencies escalate central themes of love and redemption, but these ideas remain underdeveloped, overshadowed by the film’s penchant for humor and violence. Critics pointed out the misguided attempts at melding genres, which lead to abrupt shifts from slapstick to grim moments—such as the fate of certain characters—that feel out of place.
The screenplay, credited collectively to Matthew Murray, Josh Stoddard, and Luke Passmore, adds to the film’s skepticism, employing excessive voiceover narration used as a clumsy crutch to explain otherwise missing elements. Critics have expressed frustration over this technique, stating it detracts from the narrative instead of enhancing it. This storytelling choice blurs motivations and relationships, leaving viewers without the emotional resolution the characters and story want to achieve.
The supporting cast, including Marshawn Lynch and Mustafa Shakir, provide moments of levity and fun but are also caught within the film's erratic narrative pacing. Lynch's character, with witty banter and significant comic relief, stands out but still feels like he belongs to another film altogether when juxtaposed with the more serious themes addressed.
Love Hurts draws attention for its impressive runtime of just 83 minutes, which many feel could have been more effective had the filmmakers invested time developing more substantial character arcs and narrative clarity. Instead, what should be an explosive and fun experience becomes cloudy and confused, leading to disappointment among audiences eagerly awaiting romance, levity, and thrilling action.
Unfortunately, as noted by multiple critics, Love Hurts becomes emblematic of the struggles of talented actors like Quan and DeBose, who deserve stronger material—especially following their previous successes. Did the film misinterpret its own strengths? The answer appears to hinge on the film's inability to balance its ambitious attempts at genre fusion, which results instead in incoherence.
Despite the film being packaged as the perfect Valentine’s Day spectacle, it ends up being more of a muddled entry fraught with potential yet significant missed opportunities.
The film is set to hit theaters on February 6, 2025. Moviegoers and fans of its star-studded cast await to see if all the quirks translate to box office success or if it simply becomes another disappointment at the cinema this Valentine's season.