The Smashing Machine review: Dwayne Johnson’s big swing

Dwayne Johnson knows how to rock the box office. Thanks to a starring role in The Fast & Furious universe and the rebooted Jumanji: Welcome To Jungle, he’s become one of the highest-paid actors in the world. Directors know what they’re getting for their money – a muscular hero who’s not afraid of a cheesy quip.

The Smashing Machine shows off a very different side to Johnson. Written and directed by Benny Safdie, this biopic of former Mixed Martial Arts fighter Mark Kerr (AKA The Smashing Machine) is inspired by the 2002 HBO documentary of the same name. Pulling no punches in its depiction of Kerr’s personal problems, it’s a powerful film that should see Johnson rack up a few Best Actor nods come awards season.

The hard-hitting film focuses on three years of Kerr’s life, with space to explore his often tempestuous relationship with girlfriend Dawn Staples (Emily Blunt), his friendly rivalry with fellow brawler Mark Coleman (real-life MMA fighter Ryan Bader) and his ongoing struggles with an addiction to painkillers. When he loses his first ever fight, everything begins to unravel.

Johnson is simply incredible as Kerr. He ditches every aspect of his usual screen persona (there are no comically raised eyebrows here) and turns in his best dramatic performance by some distance. The fight scenes are brutal but away from the ring, he reaches surprising emotional depths.

The contrast between Kerr’s strength in the ring and his vulnerability out of it is crucial to The Smashing Machine. When a journalist asks an as-yet-undefeated Kerr how he would feel if he lost, he finds himself unable to answer because he simply can’t relate to the idea.

Rather than turn Kerr’s opioid addiction and relationship problems into a sensationalised drama, Safdie’s sensitive script offers a great deal of sympathy. One scene has Johnson destroying a door while in the throes of a drug-fuelled rage, another tender, tearful encounter has Dawn explaining how he’s sweet when using, but cold and distant when not.

Britain’s own Emily Blunt (delivering yet another flawless American accent) is equally good as Dawn. If the film gathers momentum in awards season, she could easily get a Best Supporting Actress nomination. There’s also terrific support from Bader, whose friendship with Kerr is genuinely moving – “I didn’t come here because I love Phoenix, you know?”, he says when he visits Kerr in hospital. The film also deserves extra credit for resisting the expected clichés when it comes to the final act.

In short, this is a thoroughly entertaining sports biopic that packs one hell of a sentimental gutpunch. It’s smashing stuff.