Amor explosivo

Love Hurts is a straightforward action film with a touch of drama, but make no mistake-this is a "one-man army" kind of movie. It's the type of film that thrives on plot armor, where the protagonist is outnumbered but somehow manages to take down everyone in his path. Is it better than John Wick? Definitely not. Is it better than Nobody? Not really. But does it beat some of Jason Statham's more forgettable action flicks? Surprisingly, yes.

The story itself is simple, almost too simple. At 83 minutes (credits included), it knows when to wrap things up without overstaying its welcome. But even with its short runtime, the pacing feels uneven. There's an unbalanced mix of action and drama, with the middle part of the film filled with repetitive dialogues that stretch out the story instead of adding depth. The film had the opportunity to introduce more compelling subplots but chose not to, leaving certain moments feeling dragged out rather than dynamic.

One of the biggest frustrations is how the film teases a truly interesting character, only to cut away just when things get exciting. There's a moment where you expect an intense, game-changing sequence, but instead, it's skipped entirely. It becomes a classic case of "tell, don't show," which feels like a missed opportunity.

That being said, Ke Huy Quan brings something fresh to the action genre. He's not your typical tall, muscular action star, but he nails his role in a way that feels both cheeky and authentic. He's quick, agile, and entertaining to watch. And while the plot armor is undeniably strong, at least the film acknowledges that his character, Marvin Gable, is human-he takes hits, gets knocked down, and even bleeds. This adds some believability to his fights, making them more engaging.

However, Marvin Gable as a character feels a bit two-dimensional. We get glimpses of his past, but not enough to truly understand who he is or why he's being hunted. There's potential for a deeper backstory, but instead of expanding on it, the film keeps circling around the same few details. It feels like it's dragging itself down with repetition rather than moving forward with meaningful character development.

Ariana DeBose, on the other hand, brings plenty of energy as his partner-in-crime. She's witty, charming, and completely self-serving in the most entertaining way possible. She's chaotic, but not quite Harley Quinn levels of crazy-more like a playful, opportunistic wildcard. She adds a layer of fun to the film, making her scenes a highlight.

As for the action, it's not as gory as John Wick or Nobody, but it's still brutal enough to satisfy action fans. The choreography is slick, yet somewhat goofy-kind of like Kick-Ass, where the fights blend both realism and over-the-top action. Not every hit lands perfectly, not every move is executed flawlessly, and that imperfection actually adds to the charm.

The film also tries to introduce a unique element with "love letters" as a recurring theme, tying it to a Valentine's vibe. But while the idea is interesting, the execution feels underwhelming. The letters don't add much emotional weight, and instead of feeling special, they come across as just another detail in the film.

Verdict: Love Hurts is a quite fun but flawed action film. The performances, especially from Ke Huy Quan and Ariana DeBose, bring life to the story, and the fight sequences are enjoyable in a raw, slightly clumsy way. But the uneven pacing, lack of depth in the protagonist's backstory, and missed opportunities hold it back from being truly great. It's entertaining for what it is, but don't expect anything groundbreaking.

LIKES: Fun Funny Some Good Fights The Acting Is Involved Some Deeper Meanings Fun Subplots Summary: The synopsis I gave will hopefully set the tone that this movie is not a serious entry into the movie collection by any means. It's goofy, and that goofiness is fun to watch and get lost in for a short amount of time to just give your mind a break. Love Hurts is a comedy before anything else, as it combines a lot of elements that are hilarious to enjoy. Pokes at Martial Arts movies, more jabs at the Valentine empire, and the folly of modern loves. I enjoyed the overdramatic delivery of one character, making every piece of advice comical, while another's somber and poetic tones are strange and time perfectly to be funny rather than disturbing. There are plenty of insults, slapstick humor, and environmental mishaps that feel like a silly version of John Wick, and it worked well on many parts for me in that pure spectacle Eusebio directed it toward achieving. Speaking of fights, the action scenes sometimes nail the choreography to be exciting, impressive, and unique with the kung fu of Bruce Lee meeting the humor of Jackie Chan. Love Hurts made me... well... hurt when you see some of the blows that Quan throws in this movie at the extras. It's violent, it's fast(ish), and feels a bit like a video game with the props and planning that this movie adopted. It leads to a fast and fun pace that keeps your brain numb, and a movie like this is enjoyable when you go in with such a mindset.

There are a few deeper elements to the film, the main plot of Marvin's tale holding elements much more in tune with character growth and reflections on life. It's spiritual and almost meditative, a relevant character who is looking for happiness and finding it means that many characters don't quite match up with in other films. Other characters surprisingly have a bit more bite to them as well, not just secondary characters, but tertiary ones whose subplots are cute, entertaining, and offer a little anchor away from the violence that is the main plot. The little dance they do is all in line with the spirit of fun, and the actors all manage to be very fun and immersed in the movie, though a few seem less committed to the characters and don't bring their A-game as they do in other works. Still, Love Hurts surprised me with the expansion into other tributaries to help provide some balance.

DISLIKES Too Violent/Aggressive Withy Language Plot is Cliché/Predictable Subplots are underdeveloped/rushed Fighting comes off stiff at times The Acting Is Inconsistent Too Stupid At Times Too Little Time To Juggle Everything Summary: The movie is extreme in a lot of ways, though, and the result is a movie being chopped up and a little lacking in many elements to make some of the points fall for me. The acting is, for the most part, appropriate, most of the cast having fun with their parts and just letting their dramatic personalities unfold in manners very appropriate for the film. It's just not consistent, and some of the actors feel a tad dry and uncommitted to the role, only managing to give me convincing performances in the film. The plot is cliché and predictable, any attempts at twists washed away by the excessive comedy sweeping away the serious plot twists and character developments. The subplots suffer in their length and feel lacking or hastily tied up with a single-shot montage that feels shallow and kind of benign. As for the dialog, well, the movie gets aggressive with the foul language, losing the spice factor for that "realistic" angle that so many people seem okay to have. As. If this weren't enough, the movie also starts to run into problems with the action elements for a viewer like me. The film pays homage to the great fights well, but many times, it feels stiff, uncoordinated, and repetitive in the embellishments they took with this film. I don't know how legit the fights are, but Love Hurts seems a bit blocky and forced battles (like the Acolyte) and gets paired with John Wick damage syndrome that loses an edge when you see how much punishment our "hero" can take. All of this comes out very stupid and silly at times, leaving me bored and wishing to steer away from the comedy elements to meet closer to the middle or add some more unique and coordinated elements to make up for the cliché. All-in-all, most of these things could have been improved secondary to having more time, the eighty-two minute run time not giving much wiggle room to keep all these tales and characters in an appropriate balance, in my opinion. About twenty more minutes could have done wonders for this film, or perhaps cleaned up the cast a tad more to not cram so many thin strings into this complex web.

The VERDICT Love Hurts is another fine edition of the Valentine film parody that is very entertaining to watch. It's simply kung fu in an odd love story, and that ridiculous summary extends into the film's comedic focus with action elements to support the fast-paced film. You'll find plenty of styles to laugh at, alongside some awesome fights that feel closer to real-life anime than the actual real-life anime films we have. The pace is just purely fun, but other plots might stoke the fires of hope and well-being if you pay attention to them. However, this odd combination is not going to win much in the general audience, depending on your tolerance for violence, excessive language, and the amount of stupid humor and aggressive comedy you'll get in the short run time. Love Hurts has a lot of potential, but it's squandered by how short the film is and how many characters/sub-plots they tried to weave together in that time frame. Is it the worst thing to hit theaters? No, but the movie still needs a little more polish, planning, and precision to be worth the full recommendation to see in the theater. It's definitely going to be action lovers and comedy junkies who can't get enough as the niche audience, while the majority will probably get the most at watching at home. My scores for Love Hurts are: Action/Comedy: 6.5-7.0 Movie Overall: 6.0-6.5.

Jonathan Eusebio's Love Hurts is the kind of action-comedy that Hollywood needs more of-smart, stylish, and overflowing with charm. Blending breakneck fight sequences with razor-sharp wit, this film delivers a delightful mix of heart-pounding action and laugh-out-loud moments, anchored by a stellar ensemble cast.

At the center of the mayhem is Ke Huy Quan, who shines as Marvin Gable, a reformed assassin turned real estate agent whose past literally comes knocking at his door. Quan brings an effortless blend of charm, physicality, and comedic timing to the role, making Marvin an instantly likable protagonist. Ariana DeBose is equally captivating as Rose, Marvin's former target-turned-long-lost love, injecting the film with an irresistible blend of danger and allure.

The supporting cast elevates the film even further. Daniel Wu's ruthless yet magnetic portrayal of Alvin "Knuckles" Gable makes for a formidable antagonist, while Mustafa Shakir's smooth but untrustworthy Renny Merlow adds layers of intrigue. However, one of the biggest scene-stealers is Marshawn Lynch, who, as the knife-wielding, poetry-loving Raven, delivers an unexpected comedic performance that lands every time. His dynamic with Kausar Mohammed's hilariously disillusioned assistant Ashley brings a fresh and quirky romance into the mix.

Eusebio, best known for his stunt choreography in John Wick and Birds of Prey, makes his directorial debut with a film that showcases his mastery of action. The fight sequences are kinetic and creative, blending gun-fu, brutal hand-to-hand combat, and even a real estate closing that turns into an all-out brawl. The choreography is crisp, inventive, and never overstays its welcome, keeping the film's energy consistently high.

Beyond the action, Love Hurts boasts a script filled with sharp dialogue and genuine laughs. The film balances its over-the-top violence with heartfelt moments, never losing sight of its central theme: embracing both the past and the future. The Valentine's Day backdrop adds an ironic touch of romance, with love-whether rekindled, newfound, or hilariously misguided-woven into every plot thread.

By the time the final showdown unfolds, Love Hurts has delivered a rollercoaster of adrenaline, humor, and heart. With its pitch-perfect cast, breathtaking action, and unexpectedly sweet moments, this film cements itself as a must-watch for fans of Mr. & Mrs. Smith and The Nice Guys.

This film doesn't take itself too seriously, and nor should you. I was looking forward to seeing Ke Huy Quan in his own action film (gotta support a Goonie!) and this film def delivered on creatively choreographed action sequences. The lighting and framing throughout gave the film a bit of a comic book feel. The plot was simple but the writing was a let down. The main antagonist's story wasn't very clear and it relies on a lot of inner monologues to explain what's going on, which was distracting. It hopped around quite a bit and wasn't very cohesive. It felt like lazy writing just to get a Valentine's film out. This film is entirely supported by several key cast members (two of which have Oscar's). But if you go in expecting 1.5 hrs of a camp romp punctuated by impressively choreographed fight scenes, with a couple notable cameos, I think you'll still have fun with this silly, fun movie. I hope KHQ gets more action films as a main character because he's brilliant when he's allowed to shine.

What surprised me most about this movie is that it was released in cinemas instead of straight to a streaming service. The movie is the same as a thousand other action movies released in the last 15 years, the only difference is the actors on screen

One Man Army who no longer wants to fight - Check Hitman who is really a kind hearted person - Check Female major character who is both the love interest and looks good while kicking butt - Check Quirky side characters who talk nonsense that is supposed to sound cool - Check Main Bad Guy who is controlled with bouts of super violence - Check Highly Choreographed Action Scenes where everyone gets punched, stabbed, shot and smashed but are still able to fight with no signs of injury - Check

Ke Huy Quan is adorable as heck, but at no point does he seem like he could hurt anyone.

If you want a quick 90 minute action movie where you don't have to follow a fancy plot then you will probably enjoy this movie.

Ariana DeBose seems to forget she's in a movie at times and stops acting, and it looks horrible.