“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. He sounds like the nicest guy in the world, but make no mistake – he is no loser. He will always win.

This is where “The Smashing Machine” starts – where another movie’s middle might be – with Mark on top of the world. He’s in a committed relationship with girlfriend Dawn Staples (Emily Blunt). He’s already addicted to painkillers. And he’s about

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