The Smashing Machine

An underdog story of a different sort, The Smashing Machine spotlights an unheralded pioneer in a sport where combatants now earn millions every time they step on the mat.

Bolstered by a fully committed performance from Dwayne Johnson, this testosterone-fueled yet emotionally rich biopic peeks into the early days of mixed-martial arts, when athletes risked their lives for personal pride, meager prize money, and an adrenaline rush.

Johnson plays Mark Kerr, a former college wrestler and hulking champion in the early days of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, when it was more popular overseas than in the United States.

Mark is a man of fascinating contradictions — outside the ring he’s mild-mannered and polite, while on the mat he delights in beating his opponent to a bloody pulp. “There’s no other high in the world like it,” Mark claims. “It’s orgasmic.”

Take away his imposing physique, and his personality hardly seems to fit in a sport defined by greed and corruption and brutality. However, beneath the charismatic surface, he’s hot-tempered and deeply troubled.

Much of that is due to his opioid addiction, which first and foremost impacts his relationship with his wife (Emily Blunt), who encourages him to go clean. Depending on the day, she’s both a calming influence and an unstable presence.

But his struggles threaten his future personally and professionally. Will he be able to recapture his glory without the drugs? As his behavior becomes more erratic, the film becomes more unsettling.

From a physical perspective, the role appears aligned to Johnson’s wheelhouse. Yet aside from his appearance being almost unrecognizable, there’s conviction and sincerity in his nuanced portrayal, generating hard-earned sympathy for a man who’s generous and vicious in equal doses. Blunt also brings depth to a character that’s much more than a romantic sidekick.

The solo directorial debut of Benny Safdie (Uncut Gems) enables him to flex his muscle for the first time without brother Josh joining him behind the camera.

The meticulously detailed film immerses us in its setting. The grainy throwback visual aesthetic adds a layer of gritty nostalgia. Within its familiar narrative trajectory, Safdie’s screenplay captures the allure and the danger of its subject as well as the cost of greatness.

Despite the conventional rise-and-fall elements, Mark retains our rooting interest as he seeks a climactic triumph the movie smartly avoids. Still, The Smashing Machine grabs us and gets us to submit.

Rated R, 123 minutes.