Parents' Guide to The Smashing Machine

Johnson gives a memorable dramatic performance in a role he seems born to play. In The Smashing Machine, Safdie has chosen to elevate the story of a remarkable but little-known (outside of diehard MMA fans, anyway) elite athlete. Like the 2002 documentary of the same name, this biopic offers a compelling look at a superhero-built champion who's so confident in his skills that he doesn't know how to contemplate losing, much less deal with an actual loss or admit he has an addiction. But this is neither a typical sports underdog biopic nor a "we are the champions" tale. Because of that, some viewers may be disappointed by the third act and finale, which veer away from the uplifting endings usually associated with sports films. Still, the movie is successful as a tribute to a pioneering athlete whom Safdie clearly believes deserves wider recognition.

And it's difficult to imagine anyone other than Johnson playing the heavyweight champion nicknamed "The Smashing Machine." Although the events depicted in the movie took place when Kerr and his peers were in their 20s, Safdie avoids CGI de-aging, instead relying on hair, makeup, and surrounding Johnson with older-looking fighters (including Bader) to downplay the fact that Kerr is meant to be only a few years removed from his NCAA glory days. Johnson and Blunt, longtime friends and former co-stars, share a natural chemistry that makes their volatile relationship feel visceral. Kerr is portrayed as being just as unhealthily co-dependent on Dawn as he is on painkillers. Ultimately, as a vehicle to showcase Johnson's dramatic range—and his extraordinary physical presence—the movie excels. The pacing lags at times, and the supporting characters are much less developed than they could be, but the strong performances and authentic fighting sequences make The Smashing Machine well worth watching.