⭐️⭐️⭐️ | Rated R | 83 minutes

This Valentine’s Day-themed action thriller stars Ke Huy Quan in his first leading role as an unlikely hero with a secret violent past.

I can always find something to love about a movie so I’ll focus with the incredible action sequences. Veteran stunt coordinator JoJo Eusebio is making his directorial film debut with “Love Hurts.” It’s produced by David Leitch of the “John Wick” franchise, so you should expect some over-the-top action sequences and this film delivers some of that.

Ke Huy Quan as happy-go-lucky realtor Marvin Gable gets to show off his martial arts skills fighting an unsavory bunch of henchmen sent by his boba tea-addicted brother Knuckles played by Daniel Wu.

This film has all the ingredients to be a true action blockbuster, but fails to expand beyond an homage to stunt fighting, albeit excellent at times.

The story starts out strong with Marvin on his way to work discovering that bus stop bench ads and posters all over town advertising his realty work have been disfigured with varying styles of mustaches hastily drawn on his face. As he gets to work, he discovers a secret admirer has left a Valentine’s note for him. He escapes to his office only to be confronted by a ghost from his past, Raven (Mustafa Shakir), in an incredible show of knife work and choreographed combat.

Through that scene, we learn that the Valentine’s note was left by a former associate of Marvin’s named Rose, played by Ariana DeBose. Rose was thought to be dead, and now Marvin’s brother is out to find her any way he can. That’s about where the plot stops developing.

Marvin, bloodied and bruised, stumbles out of his office trying to hide his injuries as his boss enters the office, played by Ke’s former Goonies co-star Sean Astin. Reunited on screen for the first time in decades. It lends itself to one of the sweetest moments in the film when Marvin receives a regional realty award for excellence. For Marvin, this is firm evidence that he’s left his past far behind. Or has he?

After borrowing his boss’ land-yacht of a Cadillac to get to a house showing, we see that Marvin’s current arch nemesis is Property Brother Drew Scott, playing neighboring Realtor Jeff Zaks. On his realty sign, we see that Jeff is posed in a Gi with a black belt, echoing Scott’s real-life second degree black belt skills. Those skills will come in handy a bit later in the film, so get your popcorn ready.

The fun casting doesn’t stop with Drew Scott.

Once Marvin arrives at the house he’s showing, he’s greeted by two more henchmen, King and Otis. King is played by former NFL star Marshawn Lynch and Otis is played by Andre Eriksen. They have the sort of comic banter that could be its own buddy comedy. Think Home Alone’s Harry and Marv. Bumbling, but dangerous, and also kind-hearted when they’re not at work murdering people.

Another epic fight scene ensues, however, and we start to see cracks in the fighting with choreography that can appear stiff and staged at times. This could be a side effect of bad editing, or too much of a focus on the stunt work technique itself. Either way, it’s enjoyable to watch, but at times feels like you’re watching a dissertation of stage combat.

As the film progresses, it turns out Rose knows more than even Knuckle’s realizes and his right-hand-man Renny (Cam Gigandet) needs to keep Rose quiet. One of the more comedic moments of the film involves Rose kidnapping Kippy, Knuckle’s accountant played by the always-delightful Rhys Darby. He, too, knows what Rose knows…and then some.

At the end of the day, “Love Hurts” serves as an incredible display of stunt work not unlike last year’s “The Fall Guy”. Ke Huy Quan shows that he can take on major physical work and pull it off with ease. I wish Ariana DeBose had more on-screen combat to show off, but she serves well as the jilted Rose hellbent on destroying everyone else’s lives to gain back her own. Just wish we knew more about her character’s backstory.

The script needs a lot of help. Like I said, it has all the ingredients, but none of the story to really help the audience feel connected to anyone in particular. At times, it feels like it’s almost relying on real-world nostalgia for the reason you want Ke Huy Quan’s character to win. He plays an excellent underdog here… but his performance is only as strong as the script allows. Same for Ariana DeBose. They make the absolute most of what they’ve been given to work with.

Again, I like to focus on the positives and the film *is* fun and doesn’t require a whole lot of thinking (or bathroom breaks). At around 80 minutes, it’s the perfect date night length so you can get dinner and get back home with plenty of time to spare so that you, too, can have a very Happy Valentine’s Day.