A realtor is pulled back into the life he left behind after his former partner-in-crime resurfaces with an ominous message. With his crime-lord brother also on his trail, he must confront his past and the history he never fully buried.
The story of Ke Huy Quan’s rise in Hollywood feels almost too cinematic to be true. Starting as a beloved child actor in ’80s favorites like “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom” and “The Goonies,” he later stepped away from the spotlight due to the scarce roles for Asian actors. He didn’t leave the industry entirely, though—he found his place working behind the scenes, crafting fight sequences for “X-Men,” and serving as assistant director on Wong Kar-wai’s “2046.”
It wasn’t until “Crazy Rich Asians” shook up Hollywood in 2018 that Quan felt pulled back to acting. This return led to his Oscar-winning role in “Everything Everywhere All at Once.” His latest venture, “Love Hurts,” puts him front and center in an action-comedy that showcases both his martial arts skills and natural comedic flair, creating his own style while nodding to Jackie Chan’s influence.
The story follows Marvin Gable (Quan), a real estate agent whose ordinary life takes a sharp turn when he receives an unexpected Valentine’s Day card from Rose (Ariana DeBose). Their shared past is anything but romantic – they were once killers working for Marvin’s brother, Knuckles (Daniel Wu). Years ago, when ordered to kill Rose, Marvin chose to let her go, telling everyone she was dead.
The plot kicks into high gear when identical Valentine’s Day cards reach both brothers, exposing Marvin’s lie. Knuckles sends his best people after both Marvin and Rose just as she emerges, ready to fight for her freedom. Now Marvin must decide: stick to his safe, normal life or help Rose find her way to redemption.
The plot might be straightforward, and the characters could use more depth, but that’s not really the point—the film exists to showcase Quan’s impressive physical abilities and some truly spectacular action scenes. DeBose and Quan spark off each other wonderfully, while Wu dives into his villainous role with obvious relish, building to an explosive final showdown.
At just 83 minutes, the film moves at breakneck speed, emphasizing action over plot intricacy. One standout scene cleverly references Indiana Jones with an inventive sequence involving a refrigerator. While “Love Hurts” might not break new ground in the action-comedy world, it firmly establishes Quan as a compelling lead who brings both fighting skills and genuine warmth to the screen, hinting at an exciting future in modern action films.
In Theaters Friday, February 7th
