In “Love Hurts,” Ke Huy Quan performs a cheery, cookie-baking actual property agent who has tried onerous to neglect his previous life as an murderer. Ariana DeBose performs a former affiliate who emerges from the shadows and reminds him of what he’s left behind, in a film that does its utmost to repress any reminiscences of each stars’ being latest Academy Award winners.
“Love Hurts” is the characteristic directorial debut of Jonathan Eusebio, who has amassed an eye-popping listing of stunt- and fight-coordinating credit (“John Wick,” “The Matrix Resurrections”). In impact, he performs that function right here as nicely, as a result of there’s little else price directing: The plot is a barely-there thread of random incidents designed to string collectively motion scenes through which Quan, banishing any ideas of his personal previous taking part in Knowledge from “The Goonies,” demonstrates a powerful facility for martial arts. The screenwriters, for his or her half, discover methods to weaponize unlikely objects: sharpened pencil right here, amethyst there. Boba straws certain are sharp.
The casting is efficient, partially as a result of few would guess that Quan would present such balletic grace in hand-to-hand fight, though he has a background in stunts from the aughts. DeBose finally steps up as an motion star, too, albeit with out fairly as a lot sparring. (She usually appears to have extra munitions readily available.) However any person ought to have constructed them extra of a film to play in. At 83 minutes, “Love Hurts” falls someplace between making a advantage of brevity and wheezing its option to the end line.
No sooner has Quan’s Marvin Gable (his title sounds distractingly like Marvin Gaye all through) entered his workplace for the day than the Raven (Mustafa Shakir), a fellow murderer from the previous days hiding there, smacks him within the face. It’s Valentine’s Day on the company, and whereas everybody else — together with Marvin’s dour assistant (Lio Tipton) — is doing their greatest to be festive, Marvin, behind a closed door, is keeping off a killer who has a coat filled with knives and a e-book of unique poetry. His verses recommend an emo excessive schooler imitating Robert Frost.
The Raven desires to know the whereabouts of Rose (DeBose), whom Marvin’s kingpin brother, Knuckles (Daniel Wu), had way back ordered killed. Knuckles thought Rose was useless, however these days she has taken to sending out valentine playing cards. She can be Marvin’s secret love, and what drama there’s activates whether or not he’ll profess his ardor, and on whether or not, as he’s more and more bloodied, he’ll handle to maintain his new life and standing as “regional Realtor of the yr.”
The chemistry between DeBose and Quan is nonexistent, but it surely barely issues — the emphasis is on damage, not love. However this self-amused film barely leaves a mark.
Love Hurts
Rated R. Love, lies, bleeding. Working time: 1 hour 23 minutes. In theaters.