Based on John Hyams' 2002 documentary The Smashing Machine: The Life and Times of Extreme Fighter Mark Kerr, writer, co-producer and director Benny Safdie focuses on the years between 1997 and 2000.
Dwayne Johnson - Mark Kerr
Emily Blunt - Dawn Staples
Ryan Bader - Mark Coleman
Bas Rutten - Himself
Oleksandr Usyk - Igor "Ice Cold" Vovchanchyn
Summary
São Paulo, Brazil.
1997
In his first professional fight (representing American Freestyle Wrestling), Mark Kerr destroys Paul Varelans.
Tokyo, Japan.
Pride 7 Fighting Championships
On September 12 1999, Kerr loses to Igor Voychanchyn, but after arguing that Igor won illegally by repeatedly kneeing him in head, result is overturned to 'No Contest'.
Despite moral victory, Kerr is devastated by the whole affair and takes shit out on girlfriend Dawn Staples.
Kerr recovers from drug addiction and beats Enson Inoue at the Pride 2000 Grand Prix, but loses to Kazuyuki Fujita in the final round.
We jump to 2025 in Scottsdale, Arizona, with the real Mark Kerr shopping at a grocery store.
Wall of text reveals Mark married Dawn in Las Vegas 11 days after his loss to Fujita, had a son with her and retired in 2009.
Pain temporary. Pride is forever!
First off, does The Rock act his muscles off?
Kinda. But unlike hype, let's not get carried away.
Props to prosthetic designer Kazu Hiro for making the most overpaid actor in Hollywood history unrecognisable though.
Film is well made and fights are brutal, but Emily Blunt (who looks absolutely stunning btw), is spectacularly under-utilised and mechanical script makes an unremarkable story even more boring.
Ignoring Martin Scorsese's classic Raging Bull, better use of your time is The Wrestler, Warrior or even The Iron Claw.
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