The Smashing Machine

Last night I went to the Broadway for a double feature (there are so many movies I want to see in October).  I started with The Smashing Machine because I love inspirational sports movies and I was really intrigued by Dwayne Johnson's physical transformation in the trailer.  Unfortunately, I found it very underwhelming despite an outstanding performance from Johnson.  Mark Kerr (Johnson) is an incredibly successful UFC fighter who has never lost a match but, for financial reasons, he also fights in the Pride Fighting Championships in Japan.  When he loses a fight against Igor Vovchanchyn (Oleksandr Usyk) in a controversial decision, he spirals into depression which is exacerbated by his worsening dependence on prescription and illegal drugs.  When he overdoses, his best friend and fellow fighter Mark Coleman (Ryan Bader) convinces him to enter rehab.  He gets sober and begins training at a camp run by fellow fighter Bas Rutten (himself) in order to redeem himself at the next tournament in Japan but his dysfunctional relationship with his girlfriend Dawn Staples (Emily Blunt) threatens his comeback.  Johnson completely disappears into this role (I thought it was the hair but he is still unrecognizable when his character shaves his head before a match) and gives the best performance of his career.  In the scene after his first loss in Japan you can see the coiled rage in his body as the camera follows him walking to the locker room and then you can see him release it when he breaks down crying once he is alone.  It is a very powerful moment and Johnson conveys everything that Kerr is feeling without any dialogue.  I also really liked the way the fighting scenes were filmed because we see most of the action through the ropes from the POV of a spectator.  However, I found the narrative itself to be somewhat pointless.  This is a mild spoiler so you may want to stop reading but the first act sets up a revenge match between Kerr and Vovchanchyn since the latter won on an illegal move and the second act sets up a match between close friends Kerr and Coleman (either would have created interest and tension) but neither of these matches happen.  The filmmakers also take great pains to portray Staples as toxic and there is an incredibly satisfying moment when Kerr finally realizes it but an end title says that they eventually reconcile and marry which lessens the impact of that scene.  I understand that the filmmakers wanted to highlight a fighter who impacted the future of his sport without a lot of recognition but, in my opinion, Kerr is not a compelling enough subject for a movie.  I recommend giving this a miss.