‘The Smashing Machine’ Looks at the Early Days of a Combat Sport Politicians Wanted to Ban

‘The Smashing Machine’ looks at the early days of a combat sport politicians wanted to ban

A fascinating but uneven actor's showcase for Dwayne Johnson.

The Smashing Machine – Review

Not to initiate such a review with such pessimism right off the bat, but for all the marketing out there claiming this is the “most spectacular” or “a revelation” for Dwayne Johnson in years for a sports drama based on the MMA/UFC fighter Mark Kerr’s tale, it’s at the very least, a refreshing turn of events in a movie that seems relatviely bland in structuring. Perhaps it’s the bulky prosthetics or the lack of a tantalizing story of fighting dem…

‘The Smashing Machine’ is a sports biopic that rings hollow - SaportaReport

“The Smashing Machine” starts with a long montage of fighter Mark Kerr (Dwayne Johnson) pounding and wailing on various opponents. The camera is oddly divorced from the action, but there’s no denying the fact that Kerr – one of the most famous figures in the early years of mixed martial arts and UFC – is absolutely annihilating these guys. Over the montage, Mark is talking to a reporter, affably going into detail about how much he loves winning.…

The Smashing Machine review – A takedown of sporting movie tropes

A lot can change in 25 years. In the case of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA), rewind back to the cusp of the new millennium and the sport was a controversial, fringe affair, flirting with bans and paying its fighters a pittance for putting their bodies on the line as the rules constantly changed. No pay per view spectacle. No weigh-in and press conference drama fuelled by ego, feuds and smack talk. No mega stardom for the participants. It’s back to the…