Cliff Notes – I found Dwayne Johnson’s acting chops hard to resist.

Dwayne Johnson’s performance in The Smashing Machine as UFC icon Mark Kerr marks a significant shift in his career, showcasing his dramatic range and potential for Oscar recognition.
The film, directed by Benny Safdie, takes a unique psychological approach to Kerr’s life, focusing on his mindset and personal struggles rather than a conventional sports biopic narrative.
Johnson’s physical transformation and nuanced portrayal, supported by Emily Blunt, highlight his commitment to the role and signal a departure from his typical action and comedy roles.

The Smashing Machine review: I found Dwayne Johnson’s acting chops hard to resist.

Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson could be teetering into Oscar territory with his latest performance, in cinemas now (Picture: A24)

The Smashing Machine, featuring Dwayne Johnson’s long-awaited turn as UFC icon Mark Kerr, is the Hollywood star’s potential ticket to the upper echelons of his industry, where thespians and Oscar winners reside.

And with Johnson’s performance, the former wrestling star has truly earned his right to a place there.

Previously the highest-paid movie star in the world, Johnson has never had an issue with success – his 2021 Netflix action flick Red One was only just recently dethroned as the platform’s most-watched movie ever.

But he has struggled to break free from his pigeonholes as either an action man or a light comedy lead (or preferably both, combined).

Johnson has sensibly bolstered his dramatic debut with sterling support from his Jungle Cruise co-star and close pal Emily Blunt, as well as by placing himself in the hands of filmmaker Benny Safdie.

Not only does Safdie’s indie edge suggest a further air of quality in which the actor can envelop himself, but Johnson is making it clear he’s stepped away from the brash studio and franchise-led movies of his past.

Johnson stars alongside Emily Blunt in The Smashing Machine (Picture: Ken Hirama Dunn/A24 via AP)

Kerr might not be a sporting figure mainstream audiences are all familiar with, like a David Beckham or a Serena Williams, but he was a trailblazer for combat sports and the huge Entertainment industry that has sprung out of it – of which Johnson was also a beneficiary and star.

So it’s clear that the topic holds a special resonance for its lead actor, and while we may have seen many sports biopics before, Safdie also demonstrates a refreshing approach, choosing not to chart the highs and lows of a full career via major wins and losses.

Instead, this is much more of a psychological sports drama, focusing on the mindset Kerr had in his career and the toll it took on him during a brief period from 1997 to 2000.

In this regard, it’s a ‘smaller’ movie and does sometimes get weighed down by the detail of day-to-day life – but it’s different from the norm.

Fans have eagerly been anticipating his turn as UFC icon Mark Kerr – and they won’t be disappointed (Picture: Real American Hero LLC/PA)

Rather than cover his entire life and career, The Smashing Machine follows Kerr between 1997 and 2000 (Picture: A24/Shutterstock)

The Smashing Machine opens quite literally with Johnson pummeling an opponent, making short work of roundly beating him. Post-match reports reveal his ruthless methods in a sport that, at the time, was routinely banned for its bloody and gory nature.

He reveals that he will ‘physically impose’ himself on opponents to win – he has a perfect record – and won’t hesitate to stick his finger into a cut they may have to ‘spread it around a bit more’ and ensure his victory.

It’s absolutely brutal but delivered by Johnson in a gentle but politely direct manner with a smile – such was Kerr’s way, very different from Johnson’s own showboating as a ‘heel’ in his WWE career or the less complex acting parts he normally plays.

The Smashing Machine: Key details

Director

Benny Safdie

Writer

Benny Safdie

Cast

Dwayne Johnson, Emily Blunt, Ryan Bader, Bas Rutten, Oleksandr Usyk

Age rating

Run time

2hr 3m

Release date

October 3 in UK cinemas

For his dramatic debut Johnson looks truly remarkable, actually gaining even more muscle to get the right physique (Picture: Everett/Shutterstock)

It also must be noted that Johnson looks utterly ripped to an almost astounding degree – he actually focused on getting bigger to play Kerr, but he’s already in such incredible shape that it’s easy (but unfair) to let that pass by without comment. The man is in his 50s!

Already in the grips of an addiction he keeps private – but is no secret from those closest to Kerr – The Smashing Machine shines a light on the worrying ease with which this was managed, the odd, mundane nature of it, and the shame that the wrestler keeps buried.

Johnson juggles all of this with aplomb. His acting is quiet but laser-focused, avoiding falling into the trap of showing us all everything he can do all at once now that he’s been given creative licence to do so.

At the heart of the film is Kerr’s relationship with Dawn, a turbulent but loving one that sometimes pushes him to the brink (as multiple ripped-in-half doors can testify). It’s desperately sad watching the couple try and fail to see eye to eye, while the volatile Dawn struggles to support her partner.

Filmmaker Benny Safdie (pictured on set with Johnson and Blunt) has crafted a beautiful indie movie around his two A-list leads (Picture: A24/Shutterstock)

Blunt is the perfect foil to Johnson, with Dawn’s erraticness causing friction with Kerr’s more measured approach. The two actors share an easy chemistry, which has now been developed into a much more nuanced onscreen bond.

But this is Johnson’s movie, which Blunt is happy to support – it’s a pivotal moment in his career, and he’s delivered a knockout, thanks to a solid screenplay from Safdie.

While we may never be in desperate need of another biopic, this part for this actor is a premise few will be able to resist.

Verdict

The indie package wrapped around Dwayne Johnson by Benny Safdie ensures The Smashing Machine gives the wrestler-turned-star-turned-actor his dream Hollywood reinvention.

Cliff Notes – I found Dwayne Johnson’s acting chops hard to resist.

The Smashing Machine review: I found Dwayne Johnson’s acting chops hard to resist.