Marvin Gable (Ke Huy Quan) is living a quiet life as a high-achieving real estate agent with a loyal but sarcastic assistant, Ashley, until his past catches up with him. Once a deadly assassin for a shadowy organization called The Company—run by his estranged brother Knuckles (Daniel Wu)—Marvin is forced back into action when old flame Rose (Ariana DeBose) resurfaces with dangerous intel on Knuckles’ criminal dealings. As Marvin gets caught in the crossfire between hitmen, former allies, and a surprisingly poetic assassin named Raven, he must reconcile his dark past with his hopeful present. Along the way, Marvin, Rose, and Ashley all end up entangled in a chaotic web of romance, betrayal, and far too many unfunny quips.
Despite a unique premise and a stacked cast—including the long-awaited reunion of Ke Huy Quan and Sean Astin—Love Hurts never finds the tone it’s aiming for. The film is marketed as an action-comedy, but it’s neither thrilling enough to be action nor clever enough to be comedy. The pacing drags under a bloated plot, and while there are brief glimmers of charm, most of the jokes fall terribly flat.
Ke Huy Quan gives it his all and remains effortlessly likable, but even his charisma can't carry a film that doesn't know what it wants to be. The fight scenes are competent but uninspired, the romantic subplot feels tacked on, and the attempts at absurdist humor feel more like missed opportunities than deliberate satire. The script is bloated with side characters and tonal whiplash making it hard to invest in anyone’s arc.
While some die-hard fans of the cast might enjoy the novelty of seeing them together, Love Hurts is more exhausting than entertaining. It’s a movie that wants to be Mr. & Mrs. Smith meets The Nice Guys, but ends up somewhere closer to a B-tier streaming misfire. For libraries, this is an optional purchase.
What makes Love Hurts a unique romantic comedy action film?
While Love Hurts attempts to blend the genres of romance, comedy, and action, its execution is uneven. The concept of a retired assassin rekindling an old flame while dodging poetic hitmen and family betrayals has promise—and a few unexpected chuckles. However, the genre-blending never fully gels, making it a unique but flawed entry in the romantic comedy action film category.
Should public libraries add this romantic comedy action movie to their DVD collections?
Love Hurts is best considered an optional purchase for public libraries. While it may appeal to patrons looking for offbeat romantic comedies with an action twist, the inconsistent tone and uneven pacing limit its broader appeal. It may find a niche audience among fans of Ke Huy Quan or romantic comedies that veer into quirky territory.
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