Oscar winner Ke Huy Quan on Valentine’s Day, box office glory, and why ‘Love Hurts’ isn't your typical romance
Actor opens up on the unconventional hero he portrays in new film ahead of Valentine's Day
Dubai: For Oscar-winning Hollywood actor Ke Huy Quan, Love Hurts is an unconventional pre-Valentine’s Day film—one that doesn’t fit neatly into the romantic genre.
Instead, his new release blends comedy, action, and heart, defying the love story genre expectations.
"You know when I first heard of this story? One is an action movie in second, a Valentine's movie. I don't remember seeing a lot of Valentine's movie that is an action film too, where you can take your date and go have a good time," Quan said in an exclusive interview with Gulf News.
Ke Huy Quan is a Vietnamese-American actor whose career has spanned decades, from child stardom to a triumphant Hollywood comeback. He first gained fame in the 1980s with iconic roles as Short Round in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984) and Data in The Goonies (1985). After stepping away from acting, he made a stunning return with his Oscar-winning performance in Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022). Now, Quan continues to break boundaries, taking on unconventional roles -- most recently as an action hero with a heart of gold in Love Hurts.
As he sits down to discuss the project ahead of his movie's theatrical release in the UAE on February 7, the actor reflects on his emotional reunion with Goonies co-star Sean Astin, the unconventional hero he portrays, and his desire for box office success trumping awards glory ...
At the beginning of the movie, Sean Astin’s character tells Marvin (Quan), “You’ve come a long way. I’m proud of you.” Did that line feel like something Sean might have said to you in real life?
Yes! Having Sean say that line to me made it even more special. It just added another layer of meaning to it about what his character Cliff means to Marvin Gable. Also having Sean play my mentor was something that I could not have anticipated, but it was such a lovely surprise. I remember how we were thinking of who can play that character and there was only one name that popped up: Sean Astin. In my eyes, to be able to share the screen with him after so many years was incredible. Ever since I came back, he has been so happy for me, so to hear him say “I’m so proud of you,” felt special. Also, my entire Goonies family and also my Indiana Jones family, that’s what made this entire journey meaningful. To know that the people I love and to see how proud they are of me gets me real emotional.
We grew up with your movies, and in a way, I feel proud of you too!
Thank you! Yeah, it’s a little treat for the Goonies fans out there.
Love Hurts is releasing a week before Valentine’s Day, which is unusual for an action film. Love as a concept seems to be going out of style—people even question whether soulmates exist. Did you wonder whether this kind of story would resonate today?
When I first heard of this story—one is an action movie, the other a Valentine's movie. I don't remember seeing many Valentine's movies that could double as an action film, where you can take your date and have a good time. I remember during my younger days, when I was dating, Valentine's Day was special because it allowed me to show my girlfriend that I loved them. So, what’s the best way to do that? Have a nice dinner and watch a fun, entertaining movie. That’s what I used to do on Valentine’s Day.
Your character, Marvin, is an underdog. He doesn’t look like the stereotypical action hero, but he’s incredibly skilled. What did you bring to the role that wasn’t on the page?
In the beginning, when I read the script, I didn't quite understand why they reached out to me because it read differently. I thought it was written for somebody else. But then I learned they were trying to create a different kind of action hero—one who doesn’t look like a bad*** at first, but when the situation calls for it, you realise he is truly incredible. When I saw it yesterday, I loved it. I was very intrigued by that idea. When I came on board, we made little tweaks to make it feel more like me. Since I love this genre so much, I had a lot of ideas about what I wanted this movie to be. Honestly, this movie is an homage to those ’80s Hong Kong action movies I loved watching as a kid.
The action sequences are impressive! Marvin looks unassuming, yet he’s lethal. Was that fun for you to play?
Yes. Like you said, that element of surprise, that was the design of Marvin Gable from the very beginning. The bit where you see him go: “Oh, you know, I think I can beat him up. He looks harmless.” But, that’s also very much like in real life where a lot of these people that you see don't look threatening but are lethal. And, that's precisely what made playing Marvin Gable fun. You don't expect him to do pull such action off.
If you had to choose between box office success or award recognition—say, an Oscar or Golden Globe—which would you pick?
Oh my gosh, wow. That is a very difficult decision. I’ll tell you this. When I was a kid, I grew up on commercial, blockbuster movies led by Steven Spielberg and George Lucas ... I remember when I first saw Jurassic Park, the cinemas had a line that went around the block and everybody was so excited. And at the end of that movie, everybody got up and applauded. It was one of the greatest movie experiences ever. Now, having won an Oscar, I want to be a little bit greedy, and I would love to have box office glory. I think it’s okay to ask for both.
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Love Hurts is out in the UAE cinemas on February 7
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