National critics are comparing "Blow" with its most obvious cinematic cousins, "Traffic" and "Boogie Nights." But what's getting lost is the fact that "Blow" is not put together as well as either of those films.

Despite opening very strong, after the film's first third, this biographical drama fades badly in the 80 minutes or so that follow and ends with one of Hollywood's oldest clich�s.

In fact, it's lucky that the film has Johnny Depp as its star. The chameleon-like actor is an underrated commodity, and here he tries to carry the picture on his back, though sometimes it doesn't even deserve his presence.

However, there are times when his daring performance makes the material seem much better, much deeper, than it actually is, while a talented supporting cast tries to keep up with him.

The film's title is a slang term for cocaine, the addictive substance that earned notorious American drug runner George Jung his money, but which also led to his downfall. As shown in the film, Jung (Depp) starts off dealing marijuana in California, an operation he runs with supplier/hairdresser Derek Foreal (Paul Reubens), as well as George's stewardess girlfriend, Barbara (Franka Potente, from "Run Lola Run").

However, after being touched by tragedy and serving time in prison, George moves on to bigger things. With help from his former cellmate (Spanish actor Jordi Molla), he becomes the U.S. distributor for Colombian trafficker Pablo Escobar.

Suddenly having it all — including millions of dollars and a beautiful Colombian wife (Penelope Cruz) — you'd think he would be happy. But George is disappointed in the reactions of his disapproving parents (Ray Liotta and Rachel Griffiths), as well as his daughter (newcomer Lori L. Bailey).

Director Ted Demme and a pair of screenwriters have taken a risk in adapting Bruce Porter's Jung biography, employing a fractured narrative that helps them jump between time periods. But that also causes them to lose track of characters and subplots that might help flesh the material out. As a result, the characterizations seem rather superficial, despite the best efforts of the cast, and few are interesting or sympathetic. Although, considering the material, perhaps that's a good thing.

The sole exception is Depp, whose performance is more compelling than the film itself. (His best scenes are with Liotta and Reubens, though neither gets enough screen time.)

"Blow" is rated R for scenes depicting drug use (marijuana and cocaine), frequent strong profanity, violence (executions and a brutal beating), use of crude sexual slang and vulgar gestures, brief gore, brief female nudity and a brief sex scene. Running time: 124 minutes.

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E-MAIL: jeff@desnews.com