The Smashing Machine Review: Dwayne Johnson’s Career-Defining Performance

by

I’m a big fan of biopics, but it’s so hard to make a *good* one – they’re everywhere, and it’s tough to balance telling a true story with making it dramatically interesting. It gets even trickier when the person the movie is about is still with us and has some say in how things are portrayed! But this film really pulls it off. It’s a genuinely moving and often funny story that manages to avoid a lot of the clichés you usually see in these kinds of movies. I was really impressed!

Will *The Smashing Machine* become a timeless boxing movie like *Cinderella Man*, *The Fighter*, or *Raging Bull*? Probably not. However, that isn’t due to any shortcomings of the director, or the performances of the actors, including Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson as Mark Kerr, Emily Blunt as his girlfriend Dawn Staples, and Ryan Bader as his friend and fellow fighter Mark Coleman.

Dwayne Johnson Gives a Career-Best Performance In The Smashing Machine

Leading up to the film’s debut at the Venice International Film Festival, there was a lot of excitement surrounding Dwayne Johnson’s performance, especially after photos showed his dramatic physical change for the role of Kerr. That transformation proved to be more than skin deep. While Johnson is famous for his wrestling career as The Rock – and his early acting roles in films like *The Mummy Returns* and *The Scorpion King* – he completely shed that persona to become Kerr. He fully embodies the character, and even though impressive prosthetics can’t completely hide his athletic build, Johnson manages to disappear into the part.

Johnson brilliantly portrays Kerr’s complex personality, blending humor with genuine sadness. He captures everything from Kerr’s relentless drive for perfection—illustrated by a scene where he politely corrects someone making his protein shake—to his consuming need to win and the deep insecurity that surfaces when he struggles and turns to drugs. This is arguably Johnson’s best performance to date, allowing him to show a vulnerability and emotional range we haven’t seen in his previous action and superhero roles. His realistic acting style is a perfect fit for the character, and even the fact that he struggles to cry convincingly doesn’t diminish the power of his performance, though it’s slightly noticeable in a few scenes.

Johnson’s Chemistry With Emily Blunt Is Terrific

I was so thrilled when they announced Emily Blunt and John Krasinski were working together again! They had amazing chemistry in *A Quiet Place*, and it really made the movie. But this time, in *The Smashing Machine*, they’re playing a couple with a *much* more complicated and honestly, pretty unhealthy relationship. It’s clear their characters, Dawn and Mark, went through a lot. They have some incredibly intense scenes together – there’s one moment near the end that really stands out – and every time they’re on screen, you can’t look away. The action is great, but honestly, the movie shines when it’s just those two interacting.

Emily Blunt delivers a compelling performance as Dawn, although the character sometimes feels a little underdeveloped. It makes you wonder what the actual Dawn thinks of her depiction, especially since the movie mostly stays focused on Kerr’s perspective. Blunt’s accent work is a standout, giving Dawn a distinctive and fitting way of speaking.

Ryan Bader delivers a calm and grounded performance as Mark Coleman, a stark contrast to the turbulent life of the main subject, Kerr. Despite limited screen time, Bader hints at a complex character, making Coleman feel fully realized. His work is also key to the film’s surprising ending, which cleverly avoids the usual clichés of sports biopics.

Safdie’s Script Is Sharply Written, But the Story Falls Flat

Ben Safdie is famous for directing films with his brother Josh, including the acclaimed *Good Time* and *Uncut Gems*. *The Smashing Machine* marks his first solo directing effort, and he also wrote the screenplay himself. It proves he’s a talented filmmaker in his own right, not just benefiting from his brother’s success. The script is witty, surprisingly funny—even during the film’s most dramatic scenes, like when Coleman visits Kerr in the hospital—and it all feels natural. Safdie’s direction skillfully captures the film’s shifting moods. However, the story itself isn’t particularly compelling.

It’s hard to criticize a film based on the real, difficult life of someone like Kerr, a significant figure in MMA history. However, his story alone isn’t compelling enough to sustain the entire movie. That’s likely why the film gives more focus to Coleman, as this is clearly a story built around Johnson, but Kerr’s individual journey needed Coleman’s parallel narrative to feel complete. The film also feels overly focused on its subject matter. The ending, which jumps forward in time to show the real Kerr taking over the role from Johnson, feels awkward and doesn’t quite fit with the rest of the movie.

Overall, *The Smashing Machine* is a good watch for fans of wrestling and biopics, but it’s not a groundbreaking film. Most viewers will likely remember it for the performance of Mark Johnson, who plays Kerr. He’s delivered a truly impressive performance that could lead to awards recognition and significantly boost his career.

Read More

2025-10-07 02:06