The Smashing Machine Movie Review

From writer-director Benny Safdie (Uncut Gems) comes The Smashing Machine, the story of MMA legend Mark Kerr (played by Dwayne Johnson). Alongside Emily Blunt as Dawn Staples, the film showcases Johnson in the most transformative, career-defining role of his career. His powerhouse performance, paired with Safdie’s raw, intimate direction, makes the movie feel deeply personal and at times unforgettable.

But while Johnson and Safdie deliver, the script doesn’t. Generic and melodramatic in parts, it often reduces Kerr’s struggles to surface-level drama and sidelines Emily Blunt’s character. Without Johnson’s commanding performance and Safdie’s unique vision, The Smashing Machine wouldn’t land nearly as hard.

In this review, I dive into what works brilliantly, where the story falters, and why this movie is both powerful and frustrating at the same time.

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