It doesn't blow but it could have been better

Rating: 7/10 (4 February 2020)

The 2001 crime drama "Blow" seems like an especially promising endeavor on paper. What fan of the genre wouldn't be interested in the real-life rise and fall of a prominent cocaine dealer in the 1970s? With Johnny Depp in the leading role, what could possibly go wrong? Alas, what resulted was a fairly routine imitation of past classics along similar lines.
The cast isn't too bad at all. The aforementioned Johnny Depp was among the most intriguing actors working in Hollywood at the time so securing him was a definite stroke of luck. However, I find that his performance here pales in comparison to the quirkier roles that he's most known for. His performance isn't bad by any means, just not that interesting. Penélope Cruz was mostly unknown to American audiences at the time, so at least she added a dash of exoticism. The supporting cast did have a few standouts, though; chief among them was Jordi Mollà as a fictionalized associate of Johnny Depp's George Jung. Overall, a capable group of actors that too often seem to be just going through the motions.
The main problem is one that would be difficult for any cast to overcome: The script mostly comes across as a rehash of other, better movies. The obvious template is Martin Scorsese's "GoodFellas" but there are also distinct traces of "Scarface" & "Boogie Nights" mixed in. "Blow" competently apes the style of these movies but it doesn't add much style of its own. So, we're basically left with a movie that we can't help but compare (unfavourably) to a host of well-loved classics.
That being said, "Blow" is still a decent movie of its type. The cast and production values give it a leg up on most other movies that don't have the benefit of such advantages. Although the movie generally seems like a lesser copy of better movies, there are nevertheless glimpses of something special from time to time. It's definitely worth watching for fans of the genre but, like me, they may end up frustrated with the movie's unrealized potential.