Movie Review: The Smashing Machine

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Screened at Stockholm International Film Festival 2025

This sports movie is driven by a strong performance from its lead actor, a compelling true story, skillful direction, realistic visuals, and a heartwarming sense of nostalgia.

The film The Smashing Machine tells the true story of Mark Kerr, an early MMA fighter with a compelling life. Though it’s a movie about fighting, it doesn’t focus only on the action. It also explores Kerr’s difficult personal life. Given his physique, Dwayne Johnson seems like a natural fit to play the part.

This isn’t your typical sports movie. Like the film The Wrestler, it has a raw and unsettling feel. Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson intentionally moves away from his usual charming and heroic persona, delivering a grittier, more complex performance. He underwent a physical transformation, gaining weight and using prosthetics, making him almost unrecognizable in this role.

As a movie fan, I was really surprised by Dwayne Johnson in this! He usually plays such a charismatic, larger-than-life character, but here he deliberately dialed that down and showed a much more vulnerable, almost needy side. It honestly felt like he was playing a completely different person, discovering a hidden part of himself. It really proved he’s got way more range as an actor than people give him credit for – it reminded me a lot of how Adam Sandler totally blew us away with his serious performance in Uncut Gems.

It’s strange, but Emily Blunt, though initially hard to recognize, doesn’t quite succeed in delivering a performance that feels different from her usual work. Casting her with her Jungle Cruise co-star was a smart idea, given their existing chemistry. However, the forced tension between them feels overly theatrical and doesn’t fit the film’s attempt to be a quiet, realistic drama. Director Benny Safdie manages to create a nostalgic and charming atmosphere, setting the story firmly in the 1990s despite these conflicting elements.

“I love the thought of coming home to you…”

Rather than trying to mimic the strange fashion trends of the time, the film feels genuinely real, showing the sport as it was just beginning – still developing its fans, business side, and official rules. This interesting story about the first players strengthens the film’s focus on Kerr, portraying him as a powerfully built man who is also surprisingly sensitive and vulnerable.

The character’s internal struggle is captivating, especially as he battles substance abuse and faces a precarious situation. It’s a deeply sad story about a powerful man at his weakest, relying on friends and family as he tries to succeed professionally, save his marriage, and achieve his goals. Though the story deals with familiar themes, it feels real thanks to believable visuals and a powerful performance by Johnson. As you’d expect from a Benny Safdie film, it takes some interesting artistic risks, but The Smashing Machine manages to tell its story in a fresh way, appealing to both art house and mainstream audiences.

Honestly, beyond Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson being perfect for the role, one of the smartest things this movie did was the music. They went with a really cool, jazzy soundtrack, and it totally works. It felt like a reflection of Mark Kerr’s life – a bit unpredictable, almost dreamlike, and just letting things happen. It really captured the vibe of the time too. It’s what sets this sports drama apart – it’s less about brute force and more about raw emotion, which allowed for some genuinely powerful and touching scenes.

Benny Safdie’s The Smashing Machine is a compelling and sensitive telling of Kerr’s life story, using artistic freedom without sensationalizing it. Though occasionally fast-paced and energetic due to the dynamic between its leads, the film offers a realistic look at the challenges of fame, the weight of expectation, and the difficulty of maintaining stability when everything is falling apart.

This unique sports biopic balances moments of humor with the harsh realities of the story, delivering a heartfelt but honest cautionary tale. It’s a surprisingly effective blend of toughness and tenderness, offering glimpses into the career of Mark Kerr, one of the pioneers of mixed martial arts.

The bottom line: Transformative

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2025-12-04 10:43