Movie executives, this movie hurts. You’ve taken Ke Huy Quan, one of the most likable, sweet people on the planet, whom everyone wants to root for. And you place him in…this? Along with a host of other awesome actors whom we also like a lot?? I’ll tell you what, if you give me, an untrained, mediocre writer, $30 million, and even the setup we have here, I can at least tell you I’d do my best to get out of the way and let these awesome actors cook, instead of burying them in hot garbage and I assume ultimately blame them for the movie’s shortcomings. Ke, I still love ya, my guy don’t worry.
Quan plays Marvin Gable, a rising star in the real estate game. His boss/mentor Cliff Cussick (Sean Astin) just awarded him realtor of the month, and Marvin’s riding high…until he gets the letter. It’s from Rose (Ariana DeBose), a woman from Marvin’s past, bringing up not only a host of old feelings about who he was, but also real, shady people whom Marvin was running from. People like the poet assassin Raven (Mustafa Shakir) and Marvin’s estranged, powerful brother Knuckles (Daniel Wu), whose crime syndicate has a score to settle with both Marvin and Rose.
Love Hurts was built upon everyone liking the pairing of Ariana DeBose and Ke Huy Quan. Unfortunately, the movie doesn’t need both. The Quan storyline is straightforward enough to carry the film. As a result, poor Ariana is saddled with a pointless, plot driver instead of a character, just doing random things to keep the story moving. The more she tries to explain what’s happening, the more confusing the story gets. Impossibly, the more time we spend with DeBose’s Rose, the more we resent her presence. What the hell? I hope you got paid Ariana, and you enjoyed your time with Ke Huy Quan, but clearly the non Spielberg movie world doesn’t know how to use your talents yet. I hope they will someday.
The saving grace of the movie is all the “window dressing,” willing and excited to support a Ke Huy Quan led movie. The supporting cast is overqualified and putting in the work. I love the weird Lio Tipton/Mustafa Shakir side plot, that’s wonderfully ludicrous and silly. Marshawn Lynch and Andre Eriksen take what should have been mindless grunts and at times steal the movie with their little shenanigans. Ke/Marvin’s dual personality allows for two great cameos, one giving the movie some innate goodness and movie history, and the other an inspired committed casting with a bold funny payoff. And Daniel Wu and Ke Huy Quan are Hong Kong action legends, using that history to build really fun fight sequences juxtaposed across the ultrapolished suburban setting the movie takes place.
Can we just call this one a trial run please? Love Hurts for sure, especially when someone as lovable as Ke Huy Quan gets saddled with scripts like this one. My additional proposition to consider: a mega Hong Kong/USA martial arts crossover: the action epic we all want but haven’t had yet. I’ll be first in line to see that masterpiece!