Johnson Gives Spark to Tired Biopic ‘The Smashing Machine’

Dwayne Johnson is the consummate performer. His million-dollar smile and infinite charm are never tucked away. He has it, that ethereal quality that is magnetic. Whether on the screen or in the ring, audiences have been drawn to Johnson for three decades. The most interesting fact about Dwayne Johnson is that he has starred in at least one movie since 2001, except for one year, 2020 (which you can guess why). His persona as wrestling performer The Rock, which peaked from 1998 to 2002, was the catalyst. Since then, he has immersed himself in the Hollywood system for the past 24 years, with no signs of slowing down. Johnson’s latest effort, The Smashing Machine, is another reminder that his talent and charisma can carry an unexceptional film.

The Smashing Machine follows Johnson as Mark Kerr, a freestyle wrestler turned mixed martial artist at the height of his fighting career. Mark can size up the competition and immediately know if his opponent is scared to fight, giving him the edge any fighter would need before the thrashing. His first opponent looks like the standard nameless bad guy in a Schwarzenegger flick: big enough to intimidate the average citizen but totally disposable to our hero. The viciousness of the fight is much to stomach, with Mark dealing devastating punches, elbows, and knee shots that turn this guy’s face into hamburger meat. 

Emerging victorious after a montage of tournament fights, Mark talks about the high he gets from the crowd and the wins. Here, Johnson sets the tone for all of the fighters we encounter. Unlike pro wrestling, where performers often have outsized characterizations and gaudy flair, the mixed martial artists in this universe are purposely tempered and focused. Once they get in the ring, they activate and turn into the scariest men alive. Johnson, who gives Mark a meek voice, almost entirely without base, keeps the character free of ego. The gentlest giant manifested. Alongside him after the wins is his attentive girlfriend, Dawn Staples (Emily Blunt; The Fall Guy). Mark seems to be at the top, a champion with a beautiful woman at his side. Quickly, the mirage of his perfect life disappears. When Mark utters, “A day without pain is like a day without sunshine” (a line improvised by Johnson), it initially comes across as baffling and comical, but reveals itself to be darkly prescient.

Mark’s perfect record as a fighter is pushed to the brink as challenger Igor Vovchanchyn devastates him with a massive punch and hard knee thrusts to the back of the head. Though the fight is not lost, Mark’s shaken to the core, and any minuscule bravado he may have had evaporated. Whether it was to mask the physical pain from fighting or to numb himself from other demons, Mark is in the throes of an opioid addiction. In his home office, he shuffles through dozens of empty needles and morphine bottles to find a proper fix. And Dawn, though appearing loving, becomes increasingly volatile and an emotional drain as the two bicker over Mark’s attempted sobriety and dedication to fighting.

It’s easy to see why Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson would be attracted to play Mark Kerr. Both men, in their respective careers in performative combat, were pioneers carrying stature (literally), charm, and deep-seated hurt through fame. Also, The Smashing Machine allows Johnson to play in familiar territory from his days in World Wrestling Entertainment; both men made their bones being big, meaty men slappin’ meat. Every match is like carbon copies of Goliath’s coming to blows, with each shot more bone-crushing than the last. 

Although the role was mostly not a stretch, Johnson had to dig deep during the dramatic points in the story. For fans of his, this is the performance that has been decades in the making. During an interview on CBS News Sunday Morning, Johnson lamented not being fulfilled with his choices for commercial success. “The thing that I was running from, which was ripping myself open, was the thing that I needed the most because it made me realize that the thing I love, which is acting and telling these stories, now I see it in a different world.” The Smashing Machine looks to have successfully scratched that creative itch.  

While churning over The Smashing Machine, a question I kept coming back to was: who is this film more important to, A24 or Dwayne Johnson? Neither of these entities really needs the other. A24 is the indie darling that is finding great success with big names attached to films like The Materialist, Warfare, and Highest 2 Lowest. Johnson, outside of being on a recent streak of coolly received films, is still one of the most famous living Americans who can write his own ticket within any arena. A24 and Johnson are fine regardless of the film’s success. It’s Benny Safdie, in his first feature film without his brother Josh co-writing or directing, who has the most to win or lose. Unfortunately for Safdie, his craft for filmmaking takes a backseat to Johnson’s gargantuan presence. 

As a craftsman, Safide does all the right moves to let Johnson shine. Outside of that elevation, the story, characters, and settings rarely take off. Creatively, there aren’t many risks within The Smashing Machine. Taking direct inspiration from the 2002 documentary The Smashing Machine: The Life and Times of Extreme Fighter Mark Kerr, multiple whole scenes are lifted and recreated for the film, right down to the late ‘90s Nike training shoes and gold Nautica fleece. Depending on your perspective, you could be impressed with the recreation or view it as a crutch that Safide leaned too heavily on. 

Dawn’s character leaves a lot to be desired, as she comes across mostly as one-dimensional. Emily Blunt makes use of good chemistry and comedic timing with Johnson, leading to unexpected laughs right before dramatic turns. However, when the laughs stop, who is this woman and why is she so feverishly devoted to Mark? There was room to explore, even if there was no definitive answer beyond codependency.

Ultimately, The Smashing Machine will give audiences what they want: Dwayne Johnson growing into the actor we knew he could be. If he decides to put his full weight into campaigning, he has a puncher’s chance at a Best Leading Actor nomination. With a live-action Moana movie and Jumanji 4 both slated for 2026 release and a potential Martin Scorsese Hawaiian mobster crime drama on the horizon, Johnson’s star power remains undeniable. 

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars