“The Smashing Machine” Isn’t What You Think It Is

“The Smashing Machine” is a biopic about pioneering mixed martial artist Mark Kerr. It’s currently being marketed toward fans of UFC and the film’s star Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. But if the target audience’s Venn diagram doesn’t also include an appreciation for director Benny Safdie’s bizarre Showtime show “The Curse” or his brilliantly antic masterpiece “Uncut Gems” (co-directed with his brother Josh), a lot of viewers are going to leave the theater wondering what exactly they just saw.

This movie has more in common with “Lost in Translation” than it does with “Rocky.” It takes place mostly in Japan, it’s more about relationships and substance abuse than it is about MMA, and it’s an art film masquerading as a rousing sports story. It’s also very funny at times.

Johnson has never been better, although it is a little odd seeing the Rock at age 53 playing a guy in his late 20s. He’s just three years younger than the real Mark Kerr today, but with diet, exercise, a borderline comedic wig, and undisclosed supplements, he pulls it off.

Emily Blunt plays the sometimes doting, often annoyed, occasionally hysterical girlfriend, in what feels like a parody of a character we’ve seen a million times before. Still, the scenes of the two leads bickering and bonding feel very true to life. They cut each other down with such specific critiques, you can’t help but think about the things you’ve said and heard in the worst moments of your own relationships.

The best scenes of the movie aren’t in the octagon. Kerr explains MMA to a grandmother in the waiting room of a doctor’s office. Johnson and Blunt discuss pruning a Saguaro cactus by the pool. A man simply walks through a parking lot, in a scene that reminds you that this is based on a real-life documentary.

If you’re looking for an inspiring sports movie like 2011’s “Warrior,” you won’t find it here. But if you’re open to something more akin to 2008’s “The Wrestler,” then “The Smashing Machine” is worth your time.

Rating: 7/10

Rob Reed was born and raised in Emporium, currently residing in Lancaster. His love for movies was sparked by childhood visits to the Emporium and St. Mary’s Theaters, as well as countless trips to local video stores.