STORYLINE: Dwayne “THE ROCK” Johnson will portray former MMA/UFC champion Mark Kerr aka “The Smashing Machine” in a story based on the true events surrounding Kerr’s life and rise through the MMA world which was unfortunately derailed by his opioid addiction. (IMDb)

   In the history of film there have been a variety of films covering boxers, wrestlers, and the ufc.  They range from the inspirational (Rocky,  1976) to the dramatic (The Wrestler, 2008).  Along that path there has been the feel good releases (Here Comes the Boom, 2012) and the films that fell short of their mark (The Iron Claw, 2023).  This past weekend, The Smashing Machine was released, reuniting stars Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt, after their 2021 release Jungle Cruise.

    Casting Dwayne Johnson in the lead seems stereotypical, after his rise to fame through the WWE in the 90’s.  Then again, cinema history is filled with casting decisions such as this.  While I prefer to see him to rock roles like what he did in the Fast and Furious films and Skyscraper (2018), or his goofball rolls in Red One (2024). The casting decision in The Smashing Machine was a good one. 

   I went in to the film, on the bias side towards Emily Blunt’s performance. She is one of my two Hollywood crushes, so I really wanted to like her performance.  I did, moving on.

   The Smashing Machine dealt with the struggles of addiction, and the strive to be the completive best.  The Fighter (2010) and The Wrestler covered both topics better, while The Smashing Machine did it better then The Iron Claw.  Clearly, the sequence of events in this film had been done in other films.

  The fight sequences were exciting to see on the big screen.  Every punch, every kick was heard through the surround sound, and seen on a huge screen.     It thrilled me.

   The Smashing Machine was a middle of the road film, with exciting UFC fights sprinkled throughout its runtime. 

    Until next time I will see you at the movies!