We all have past. Some try to outrun it and some embrace it. When it comes down to it, though, you can’t outrun your past and, in Love Hurts, Ke Huy Quan finds this out firsthand…and the hard way.
Living as a friendly, well-respected and award-winning realtor, Marvin Gable (Quan), is the person everybody loves but is quickly confronted by his past, in the form of a Valentine’s card, which is mysteriously left for him.
We soon find out it was left by Rose, a lawyer Marvin was hired by his brother, Knuckles, to eliminate after she stole from Alvin and “The Company.”
We soon find out that Marvin is a former assassin- and a good one at that- and he has worked very hard to move on from that life and to start over. His boss, Cliff (Sean Astin) is like a brother to him and his neurotic assistant- Ashley- is like a sister to him.
However, when he receives an award for Realtor of the Month, he goes into his office to unwind before a big house showing, he’s confronted by poetry-loving & knife-wielding assassin, Raven, who he quickly takes care of.
Throughout the movie, Marvin his fighting off King & Otis, who are trying to get Marvin captured to take him to Knuckles, all the while Marvin is fighting his feelings for Ashley, who he is deeply in love with, along with trying to run from his past life, while Ashley is trying to teach him that his life as an assassin is who he really is and what made him who he is.
Love Hurts is a feel-good film that shows Quan glowing and shining bright in his first lead role since his Academy Award win and also shows him in a completely different light.
While he exudes the happy, friendly attitude that the real-life Quan is known for, Marvin Gable is a true badass in every way imaginable. Alongside Quan, Marshawn Lynch shines unexpectedly bright as King in his first feature role.
Bridger Neilson’s cinematography is innovative and creative as you’ll ever see and the plot is one that you can’t help but smile and laugh throughout while he action is breathtaking and enthralling.
Love Hurts has many themes throughout the film and is a deep-dive look at the importance of embracing who you really are, finding love when it’s right in front of you and to value the people who you have in your life who you hold close.
Move over, John Wick, Marvin Gable is here, Love Hurts is a grand slam.
Rating: 10/10
-Reggie Edwards