? Current mild-mannered real estate agent, former hitman. Love Hurts marks the directorial debut of Jonathan Eusebio, a veteran fight choreographer and stunt coordinator who has hallmark action films like John Wick under his belt. Eusebio delivers a Jackie Chan-style action comedy, starring Oscar winners Ke Huy Quan, seen in Everything Everywhere All At Once and Ariana DeBose from West Side Story.

Violence runs in the family. The story follows Marvin Gible (Quan), a gang hitman working under his brother Knuckles (Daniel Wu). His life takes an unexpected turn when Knuckles orders him to eliminate his girlfriend Rose (DeBose), a fellow gang member. Instead of carrying out the hit, Marvin helps Rose escape and fakes her death, leaving his criminal past behind to pursue a surprisingly mundane career in real estate. However, his attempt at a normal life is shattered when Rose resurfaces, putting both of them in the crosshairs of his former gang.

Despite its promising cast of Oscar laureates, the film struggles to find its footing. The comedy falls flat at times, and the action sequences, while technically proficient, feel oddly mechanical — perhaps a result of Eusebio’s transition from stunt coordination to directing. The plot seems to serve merely as a vehicle for action setpieces, sacrificing coherence and depth along the way.

That said, the film isn’t without merit. The cinematography shows promise, with thoughtful color composition that complements the film’s themes, and an energetic soundtrack that maintains the film’s momentum. Viewed as a straightforward 90 minute entertainment piece — remember 90 minute movies? — Love Hurts delivers enough thrills to justify its runtime.

WHERE TO WATCH IT- You can find Love Hurts at VOX cinemas at City Center Almaza and Mall of Egypt, and City Stars.

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