The Smashing Machine 2025 Movie review
Scotty Scoop AKA @rabid_platypuss on Instagram on podcast @mostlysuperheroes provides a spoiler free review of The Smashing Machine. This A24 film stars Dwayne The Rock Johnson as UFC fighter Mark Kerr alongside Emily Blunt as his partner, Dawn.
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Thanks to Hi-Pointe Theater in St. Louis and Allied Global Marketing for putting together the screening Scotty attended. Support your local movie theaters.
Written and Directed by Benny Safdie
Starring, Dwayne Johnson, Emily Blunt,
Running Time 2hrs 3min
Rating R
Studio A24
Synopsis:
The story of mixed-martial arts and UFC champion, Mark Kerr.
Scotty Scoop Review:
10/1/2025
The Smashing Machine
Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson puts on a stunning performance as UFC/Pride legend Mark Kerr. This was easily the best performance in the career of The Rock by a mile. An emotional role with a lot of nuance that I wasn't sure he was capable of. Emily Blunt also put on a solid performance here as Kerrs partner Dawn, but that isn't exactly surprising as she's always solid in anything I've ever seen her in.
Now, for the other part of the review, which I will start by comparing the film to a UFC fight. Have you ever watched a fight between two great fighters that goes the distance, a technically good fight, between two professionals that don't make many mistakes but never really gets going? That's what this was. I watched this film, and by the end, it felt like a draw. Based on Kerrs life specifically between the years of 1997 and 2000. He was already in the prime of his fighting life, he had struggles with drug abuse, some conflict in his relationship but somehow none of that ever really got interesting enough for me to want to care about the story that was happening.
This is the issue I have with most biopics and "based on a true story" films. Most often, real life and true events, while mildly interesting, don't often end in a satisfying way. There aren't great twists or memorable lines that stick with you after you leave. I felt like I was holding my breath, waiting for something amazing to happen, and it just... didn't. The film ended, but not when Kerrs career did. Kerr went on to fight for almost 10 years after the film cut. Which made it feel incomplete.
This film isn't bad. It has some great performances by the two leads. Johnson is unrecognizable through most of the movie, which is hard to do with the most electrifying man in sports entertainment (yeah, I had to do that). The story itself is what felt flat here, which is a bit of disappointment after seeing the commitment and work Johnson and Blunt put in.
I'm going to give 3.0/4 rating with most of those points coming from the performances.
If you're a fan of fighting, you'll get more out of this than the average person, so if that's you, check it out.
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