This biopic is about Mark Kerr, a mixed-martial arts and UFC champion. As expected from a sports story like this, he rises before the inevitable fall. His addiction to painkillers plays a much smaller part in the story than would usually happen in a film like this. Dwayne Johnson piled on the prosthetics to help create his character and mold his decent performance as the movie’s centerpiece. Emily Blunt does a remarkable job as his bold girlfriend. Despite the potential for clinching emotions, writer/director Benny Safdie has kept things more on the surface. He’s also peppered the action with too many fights, which get downright dull. There’s an interesting story about the sensitive man behind the blows, but it lacks the depth or power to make it a moving drama. 
(2 / 5)
