**The Oscar Curse Strikes Again: *Love Hurts* Falls Short**
Receiving an [Academy Award](https://mashable.com/category/oscars) is frequently regarded as the apex of an actor’s journey. Nonetheless, Hollywood folklore implies that winning an Oscar can be succeeded by a streak of misfortune—be it a scandal, a box office disaster, or a downturn in one’s career. While some may overlook the so-called “Oscar Curse,” *Love Hurts*, featuring recent Academy Award recipients [Ke Huy Quan](https://mashable.com/article/ke-huy-quan-wins-best-supporting-actor-oscars-2023) (*Everything Everywhere All At Once*) and [Ariana DeBose](https://mashable.com/article/ariana-debose-west-side-story-oscar) (*West Side Story*), might just convince you otherwise.
### *Love Hurts* Squanders Its Gifted Cast
At first sight, having Quan in *Love Hurts* appears to be a sensible decision. His role in the [Best Picture-winning](https://mashable.com/article/best-picture-oscars-2023-everything-everywhere-all-at-once) *Everything Everywhere All At Once* demonstrated his knack for fusing humor, action, and genuine emotion. Combining him with DeBose, who enchanted viewers as Anita in *West Side Story*, should have been a recipe for success. Regrettably, this Valentine’s Day-themed action-comedy turns out to be a disorganized fiasco, marred by choppy fight sequences, flimsy characters, and a lack of thoughtful guidance from debut director Jonathan Eusebio.
### Action Alone Can’t Salvage *Love Hurts*
Quan portrays Marvin Gable, a real estate agent with an irresistible zeal for securing homes for his clients. However, prior to becoming a leading realtor, Marvin operated as a hitman for his ruthless yet fashionable brother, Knuckles (Daniel Wu). His history resurfaces when Rose Carlisle (DeBose), an ex-love interest and the target of a hit he discreetly spared, comes back for retribution. While Rose is intent on dismantling Knuckles and his gang, Marvin merely aims to safeguard his tranquil life—and his prized real estate credential. The story unfolds through a series of violent confrontations and exaggerative action sequences.
To Eusebio’s credit, the fight choreography is inventive and engaging. The film showcases a spectrum of combat styles, from brawls to knife fights and gun skirmishes, incorporating everyday items like cookie cutters and oversized kitchen accessories. The stunt team, headed by Can Aydin, guarantees seamless transitions between actors and stunt performers, while the exaggerated facial expressions enhance the film’s quirky vibe.
However, the film grapples with inconsistent tones. Produced by [David Leitch](https://mashable.com/video/fall-guy-interview-taylor-swift-all-too-well-ryan-gosling) (*Nobody*, *Violent Night*), *Love Hurts* echoes the same tendency of its predecessors to merge humor with violent themes. Still, the juxtaposition feels unsettling. One moment, Sean Astin delivers a touching monologue about second chances; the next, a grisly murder is treated as a joke. While *Everything Everywhere All At Once* achieved a blend of absurdity and emotional resonance, *Love Hurts* leans too heavily into shock tactics, rendering it more of a cheap ploy than a riveting narrative.
### Ke Huy Quan and Ariana DeBose Deserve More
Quan once again displays his adaptability, taking on various incarnations of Marvin—the sincere realtor and the tough hitman. However, the screenplay, penned by Matthew Murray, Josh Stoddard, and Luke Passmore, barely delves into his character’s evolution. Consequently, Marvin appears as a diluted reflection of Quan’s role in *Everything Everywhere All At Once*, making the film feel redundant.
DeBose, for her part, continues to experience challenges with post-Oscar outings. Following a chain of letdowns—including Disney’s [*Wish*](https://mashable.com/article/wish-review-disney), the spy comedy [*Argylle*](https://mashable.com/article/argylle-review), and Sony’s superhero misfire [*Kraven: The Hunter*](https://mashable.com/article/kraven-the-hunter-movie-review)—*Love Hurts* does little to alter the pattern. Once more, she embodies a fashionable, tough-as-nails side character instead of a fully developed protagonist. While she injects charisma and confidence into Rose, the character is a jumble of clichés from film noir and action cinema, leaving DeBose with scant material to utilize.
The supporting cast hints at potential. Lio Tipton stands out as a millennial realtor caught in the middle of