Dwayne Johnson Delivers a Knockout Performance in “The Smashing Machine”

Dwayne Johnson teams up with Benny Safdie, one of the rising directorial visionaries in cinema, for the biopic “The Smashing Machine” from A24. Safdie also wrote the screenplay for the film, which tells the story of legendary mixed martial arts and UFC fighter Mark Kerr.

My introduction to the UFC came in the spring of 1994 when my best friend’s dad ordered UFC II on Pay-Per-View. At the time, I was taking Taekwondo and had a massive love for martial arts. Being thirteen and watching different fighting styles go toe-to-toe was thrilling. The only name I remember from that event was Royce Gracie.

As my readers already know, biopics are one of my favorite genres. Since Dwayne Johnson’s announced biopic of Charley Pride never got off the ground, I was eager to see what he would bring to the table for a serious dramatic role. Safdie’s keen eye for cinematography is evident early in the film, which has a grainy VHS look reflective of the time period.

One of the first things viewers will notice about Johnson’s performance is the “gentle giant” vibe he brings to Kerr. The wrestler-turned-actor truly disappears into the role, lowering the bass in his natural speaking voice and wearing heavy prosthetics. It’s a challenging role, and for the most part, he pulls it off.

The only other well-known name in the cast is Emily Blunt, who portrays Kerr’s longtime girlfriend. Blunt balances out the bravado that Johnson brings to Kerr, and I’m almost sure that once more people see the film, we will see an outpouring of think pieces about the toxicity of their relationship. However, for the story that Safdie wants to tell and the angle he chooses to take, it works.

I credit Safdie for not casting any other famous names in the supporting roles. A recognizable actor could have easily filled the role of one of Mark’s trainers, but Safdie chose to let Johnson and Blunt do most of the heavy lifting. While “The Smashing Machine” does avoid the usual biopic tropes, this is also where the film falls short.

We don’t get any real background information on Mark’s life before his UFC days, nor do we learn what led to one of his drug addictions. Therefore, viewers who prefer more substance in their biopic narratives may take issue with the lack of information.

Nevertheless, the key selling point of “The Smashing Machine” is watching Dwayne Johnson go against type, and in that regard, the film delivers a knockout.

Final Grade: B+

“The Smashing Machine” is in theaters this Friday.