The Smashing Machine
review by Bobby Blakey
Throughout his career Dwayne Johnson has taken on a variety of roles, but none that fit him so perfectly as that of his latest film The Smashing Machine where he takes on the role of real-life MMA champion Mark Kerr. The film reteams him with his Jungle Cruise co-star Emily Blunt along with Ryan Bader, Bas Rutten, and Oleksandr Usyk from Uncut Gems co-director Bennie Safdie at the helm.
The Smashing Machine follows the true events surrounding Mark Kerr's life and rise through the MMA world which was unfortunately derailed by his opioid addiction.
While most of the time Johnson has been focused on the bigger budget action spectacles he has dabbled in some drama and other genres in the past with Gridiron Gang being one of my favorites. Seeing him stretch his acting chops to transform both physically and mentally into Kerr is a brave new direction for him and one that pays off in every way. Easily one of if not the best performance of his career this film leaves it all on the mat and kicks ass even though it gets a bit by the numbers at times.
As a martial artist and fan of the early days of UFC I remember watching Kerr fight and the beast he was in the ring. I didn’t keep up with him much after that, so it was a great journey to see where and how things played out for him with the ups and downs. The film is not a full biopic of Kerr but focuses on just the period of his life as the rising star and ultimate downfall. It is streamlined in its storytelling which keeps it moving at a swift pace but does limit some of the impact other elements could have strengthen it all the more.
Both Johnson and Blunt are fantastic here with their dynamic as Kerr and Dawn are loving and sweet as well as toxic and chaotic. Johnson brings both strength and ferocity along with the sweetness of Kerr’s personality outside of the ring. He
offers up a full range of emotions completely immersing himself in the role and giving a great performance. This is a career defining role for Johnson who has stepped things up and hope this will take him into a whole new chapter in his film career.
Blunt is just as dynamic, being his partner that is always there for him in every way but has her own demons to deal with that smashes its way into their relationship. She is sweet and caring but you can see something behind her eyes that is just off. When she finally comes to head she goes all in with a powerful performance that is heart wrenching and perfection. I wish they had delved more into her addiction issues that lead into a powerful scene to give it more impact, but they give the audience just enough to already know it’s there.
The film has some rushed and quick cuts sometime that make elements feel rushed, but I think the attempt to streamline it was still a strong point for this story. At times the film also feels more by the numbers of a typical biopic which isn’t a bad thing, but with Safdie at the helm though it might have a more unique approach. The choice of the gritty visual tone harkens it back into the time period it is all taking place and gives it that lower budget film aspect at times which I think fit into he world of the story at hand.
I loved this film on multiple levels and while not perfect think it lives up the hype. I would love to see it get some sort of Oscar consideration, but no matter what does justice to the legacy of Kerr and his career and send Johnson on a new journey in his acting that I hope he capitalizes on. The final moments of the film had a great tribute to Kerr and his place in the world along with plenty of classic photos that let the audience not only see the true elements but celebrate Kerr himself.
Decide for yourself and step into the ring for The Smashing Machine in theaters now from A24.