Sometimes a film stands out in my mind for what it doesn’t do as much as what it does do. Despite its tried-and-true normal-guy-returns-to-his-kickass-past formula, Love Hurts is a unique action comedy in today’s landscape because it doesn’t waste time (in its brisk 83 minutes) with raunch or overly silly running gags. There’s just enough silliness here to compliment the incredible stunt work, and sometimes slight silliness and spectacular stunts are all you need.
Ke Huy Quan stars as Marvin Gable, a friendly realtor whose previous life of organized crime comes to haunt him one particular Valentine’s Day. Rose (Arianna DeBose), his former partner-in-crime, has resurfaced to exact revenge on the people (including Marvin, or so she believes) who set her up. Quirky hitmen abound to chase after Marvin, believing he is harboring Rose and working with her, but these hitmen don’t overstay their welcome or change the film’s delightful tone. Their running jokes don’t get tiring because they’re well-paced throughout the story, and shockingly, they’re never, ever dirty. The film sticks to its niceness and wears it like a badge of honor, letting some of the most violent moments of action stand in as punchlines where other films would have lazily injected more swearing and sex jokes.
Has there ever been a case of an Oscar winner (Quan) starring alongside an actor who not only won an Oscar the previous year, but also presented that actor the award (DeBose)? If there is, I can’t think of it off the top of my head. That’s another thing that makes Love Hurts so unique. Quan and DeBose clearly bonded during Quan’s award season for Everything Everywhere All at Once, and that friendship fuels their chemistry here. As Marvin’s killer instinct emerges in self-defense, he and Rose make fantastic tag-team partners. Again, their humor is more character-based than quippy or raunchy, and the film is all the better for it.
The real star of the show, however, is the stunt choreography. Half of the biggest laughs in the film stem from how brutal some moments are when contrasted with the film’s overall light tone, as well as some brilliant setups and payoffs within fights. There’s also 100% clarity to the action here, for which I have to assume the credit should go to director and professional stuntman Jonathan Eusebio. There aren’t any jaw-dropping moments in terms of scale, but what the film lacks in scope, it more than makes up for in how visceral, inventive, credible, clear, and fun every hand-to-hand combat sequence is. An early sequence in Marvin’s kitchen made me want to stand up and cheer. The way the scene makes perfect use of Quan’s wiry frame, Marshawn Lynch’s (as hitman King) bulk, and André Eriksen’s (as hitman Otis) muscle is like watching a beautiful dance. A violent, bloody, beautiful dance.
Is Love Hurts a perfect film? No. Its story is fairly predictable overall, and at times, it’s a little clunky in its attempts to blend its disparate tones. But more often than not, it succeeds in that effort, and I’d be lying if I said I didn’t have a blast watching it. If you and your partner both like action movies, I’d say it’s the perfect movie for a Valentine’s Day date. | George Napper
