SMASHING MACHINE, THE
(director/writer: Benny Safdie; cinematographer: Maceo Bishop; editor: Benny Safdie; music: Nala Sinephro; cast: Dwayne Johnson (Mark Kerr), Emily Blunt (Dawn Staples), Ryan Bader (Mark Coleman), Kenny Rice (Vale Tudo Announcer), Bas Rutten (Bas), Whitney Moore (Jaqueline), Oleksandr Usyk (Igor Vovchanchyn), Yasuko Mitsuura (Pride director), Satoshi Ishii (Enson Inoue), Yoko Hamamura (Kazuyuki Fujita), Stephen Quadros (Himself), Jason Tremblay (Pride 2000 photographer), Lyndsey Gavin (Kelley Coleman), James Moontasri (Akira Shoji), Jason Tremblay (Arizona Cop); Runtime: 123; MPAA Rating: R; producers: Eli Bush, Benny Safdie, David Koplane, Dany Garcia, Hiram Garcia; A24; 2025)
“Pinned down by an uneven script.”
Reviewed by Dennis Schwartz
Benny Safdie (“Uncut Gems”/”Good Time”) is the producer, editor, writer and director of this true sports biopic about Mark Kerr (Dwayne Johnson), one of the pioneers of Ultimate Fighting (Mixed Martial Arts-MMA). It takes us into the time when these athletes didn’t make the top money they now make. It was a time when the combatants risked their lives for personal pride, a small amount of prize money, and the thrill of a sports high when winning.
Pinned down by an uneven script it nevertheless offers a gentle character study of the polite Mark, who balances his brutal career in the ring with his warm relationship with his feisty sweetheart Dawn Staples (Emily Blunt).
Dwayne allows for his crowd-pleasing “The Rock” persona to be vulnerable, as he battles alcoholism, drug addiction and his need to make a name for himself in UFC circles. But the screenplay is limited and it can’t get into his head or heart, even if “The Rock” shines with an impressive performance.
In 1997, Mark, a former wrestler, reached the very pinnacle of the up-and-coming controversial sport that combines boxing, wrestling and martial arts and became the star performer of both the UFC (Ultimate Fighting Champonship) and the Pride in Japan. But after too many injuries and tough years competing, his deviant behavior became questionable and he resorted to using drugs. After he gets clean in rehab he reunites with his trainer Bas (Bas Rutten) and returns to the ring for his comeback.
During the climactic sequence, taking place during the run-up to the Pride championship in 2000, Mark shaved his head and looks fierce as he takes on 15 other fighters competing for the grand prize money of $200,000, as included among the fighters is his buddy Mark Coleman (Ryan Bader).
“The Rock” beautifully plays the gentle giant with inner demons. But this is not one of my favorite sports or favorite sport biopics. What surprised me however was how good “The Rock” was in it despite his character not being fully fleshed out.
It played at the Zurich Film Festival.
REVIEWED ON 1/27/2026 GRADE: B-
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