Early in The Smashing Machine , a reporter tries to pry an answer out of Mark Kerr, the hulking ultimate fighting champ portrayed by Dwayne Johnson . The reporter wants to know how Kerr will handle losing a match, but Kerr finds the question utterly bewildering.
Johnson furrows his brow as best as he can, which–like his nose–has been covered with prosthetics to help him better resemble the real Mark Kerr. The effects work in that regard, as Johnson does look like Kerr, who appears as himself and in photos at the end of the film, and not so much like himself. That is, until he flashes that million-dollar smile as Kerr tries to answer the reporter’s question.
The sudden reappearance of Dwayne Johnson’s smile in particular and the interview scene in general belies the awards buzz that