The Reel Review
Mixed Martial Arts fighter Mark Kerr, a pioneer in the sport, battles an addiction to painkillers and a volatile romantic relationship during his journey to become a UFC heavyweight champion. Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Emily Blunt star in this action sports/biopic based on the similarly titled 2002 documentary.
In his first solo film after years of collaborations (Uncut Gems, Good Time) with older brother Josh (Marty Supreme), Benny Safdie infuses the duo’s trademark quirky score and point-of-view camerawork into this very unconventional biopic that is less about Kerr’s career and more about his personal challenges. Visually, it is transformative, even including key figures from Kerr’s career in important roles. But frustratingly, it is more style than substance – there just isn’t much meat on this messy screenplay’s bones.
Despite the weak story, Dwayne Johnson’s physical transformation is truly impressive, as he captures not only Kerr’s appearance, but even his way of walking and speaking. Blunt, as always, is a standout as Kerr’s emotionally volatile and hedonistic girlfriend, Dawn. It’s just a shame the story itself lacks the excitement of an actual MMA match.
REEL FACTS
• Mark Kerr, who was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame in 2025 as one of the sport’s unheralded pioneers, currently runs a wellness company in Scottsdale, Arizona with second wife Franci Alberding. Kerr, who says he’s been sober for seven years, suffers from peripheral neuropathy which causes chronic pain.
• Mark Kerr’s former coach and friend Bas Rutten plays himself in the film, as does Stephen “The Fight Professor” Quadros, a former (English) Combat Commentator for PRIDE. Ukrainian Olympic boxing gold medalist Oleksandr Usyk portrays Kerr’s opponent Igor Vovchanchyn.
• Two-time Oscar-winner Kazu Hiro (Bombshell, Darkest Hour), who also received an Oscar nomination for this film, spent three to four hours on set each day to apply the 21 prosthetics needed to make Dwayne Johnson look like Mark Kerr.
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