Blow is the true tale of George Jung’s (Johnny Depp,Edward Scissorhands) comeuppance in the high stakes world of drug trafficking. Despite a Weymouth, Massachusetts upbringing from an honest father (Ray Liotta,Muppets from Space) with a strong work ethic, George’s aspirations deviate. Transplanted to enchanting 1960’s Manhattan Beach, California, with childhood friend, Tuna (Ethan Suplee,Road Trip), the two embark in the trade of the omnipresent cannibis sativa - buffered by a bevy of bodacious stewardesses.

George finds utopia at the side of Barbara (Franka Potente), stewardess-cum-sensimillia mule, and is quickly introduced to Derek Foreal (Paul Reubens, Pee-wee Herman), a swashbuckling, ac/dc hairdresser/party boy/drug contact.

George is ensnared by the high life that being a drug kingpin affords but is dimed out to the feds by his own well-to-do mom (Rachel Griffiths, Me, Myself & I). Unbeknownst to her, his stint in the slammer leads to the hook-up with Diego Delgado(Jordi Molla), who knows talent when he sees it and steers George in the direction of Pablo Escobar’s (Cliff Curtis) Colombian Medellin Cartel upon release. From here, with the help of Escobar’s power, George becomes the poster boy responsible for the influx of 90% of cocaine in 1980’s snow blind America.

George brings in the old school gang, including old pot hand Kevin Dulli (Max Perlich) and the struggle for power ensues to see which one of these players - Delgado, Foreal, Jung – can harness the high life while wielding the most power and control in the nose candy market until the flame is inevitably snuffed out.

Jung takes on a double-dealing wife, Mirtha (Penelope Cruz) with a penchant for spending too much time in the powder room. Resulting in a tumultuous marriage and a daughter, Kristina Sunshine, who ultimately opens George’s eyes to the real reason for living.

The piece rolls for the first half to the back beat of classic drug genre tunes, Rolling Stones’ Can’t You Hear Me Knocking, Lynard Skynard’s That Smell - getting us high and delusional on the life and times of a successful, fun loving drug trafficker. Then the project comes to a screaming halt - leaving skid marks from L.A. to Tiajuana. What happens next is nobody’s clue - even the production accountant on 116 North Robertson Blvd. at New Line Cinema.

Depp makes us wonder if he ever really was the fabulous Ed Wood, with the overbearing fake teeth. Instead, we have flashbacks realizing that this might actually be the scrawny guy from 21 Jump Street or worse – Freddy Kreuger’s whipping boy from Elm Street whose fate was encased inside the sloshing mattress of a waterbed.

Sean Penn can light up another American Spirit - America’s Best Cigarette - Natural, 100% additive free tobacco – and relish his title as the best actor of his generation. Penn is 40 years old, Depp 37. Penn never had scenes stolen from underneath him by Peter DeLuise – son of Dom.

Paul Reubens, back on the big screen for the first time in 13 years, is so convincing that it makes one wonder why he ever got busted for making a public Pee-wee hand puppet. I mean, who on the vice squad really got so up close and personal with the guy? There’s the real deviant. To think that Mickey Rourke’s Diner “popcorn surprise” could get upstaged. Villainous.

Despite her European cooing section, Penelope Cruz has as much acting talent as the Olsen twins – combined. Okay, so I’ll never get to eat lunch in Hollywood. Big deal. Sitting across from Heidi Fleiss with a gaping mouthful is not my idea of the Sushi on Sunset smorgasbord. We all live downstream.

Kudos to casting as father/son combo Liotta and Depp do have a strong resemblance as father and son. Griffiths plays the meanest big screen totalitarian this side of Glenn Close in Fatal Attraction. Acting or not, this woman is to be avoided and loathed with a passion.

Blow leaves a mark as the biggest waste of celluloid left in the trusted hands of director Ted Demme, who seemed more eager to get to the “treats” bestowed the Hollywood wrap party. From casting couch to “Cut! That’s a wrap,” he seemingly lost direction getting the finished product in the “can.” Blow aptly suggests what he did with the film's budget. From the balcony . . .

Recommended:
Yes

Suitability For Children: Not suitable for Children of any age