Eddie Murphy: Delirious (1983)

Stylish but barely mediocre overall

Excellent, smart action film.

Don't listen to the negative reviews

It's simply great fun, a winsome film and an occasionally over-the-top luxury fantasy that never flags.

Before Eddie Murphy Raw, we had a more raw concert movie, Eddie sporting a ruddy suit, spouting obscenities and jokes, ones that come off much cheaper, than the latter movie. This one not really suited for cinema, especially when watching the opening with the bus boys to the theme "The Boys Are Back In Town". Some of the humor is in bad taste too, like the ones set around feces and furniture, where it had me visualizing the scene, and being put off, though laughing hard. Eddie also makes a honest point with Elvis Presly's acting, before ending this topic, by feigning a fart. Like Raw, the magic is here too, but like I said, the humor comes off more cheaply, where may'be too, Eddie wasn't as polished here as in later years, if to develop more in standup. Taking pokes at many other celebrities, and doing great impressions, Eddie makes Delirious, still a very funny show, the title kind of giving emphasis to his state, when flapping his lips with all this raw material. Watch for the shot of a d..khead in the audience jumping up, raising his shirt, of course, wanting exposure, but there's only one star of this show and that's Eddie.

Eddie Murphy's raunchy, raucous stand-up comedy routine is captured for posterity on this tape. Not for folks who dislike foul language.The opening part of the set is littered with derogatory jokes on homosexuality, leaving some to wonder: is Murphy homophobic? From the material, it is hard to say. We could say this was normal in the early 1980s, or even point out he is never being spiteful, and just found an easy target.Interestingly, his comments about getting women because of show business, much like Richard Pryor joked a year earlier. Coincidence? What separates Murphy from Pryor (among other things) is his great Elvis impression, as well as impressions in general. One can easily see why much later (such as in "Shrek") he was sought out for voice work.

This is the ultimate one-man show in which Eddie Murphy is at his very best. Just forget the Nutty Professor and the Distinguished Gentlemen, this is the real Eddie Murphy. His imitations of Mr. T. (pretending he is gay), Michael Jackson and other artists are killers. I think it's also quite daring to make fun of artists who where really popular in that time. My favorite act is the one where he is at his annual BBQ with the family and plays his drunken dad and aunt Bunny who falls from the stairs.This show is the best medicine when you feel down ! If you watch the sequel 'Raw' don't be disappointed. It's quite good too but doesn't match 'Delirious'.

This is hands down the greatest stand up show ever. I've seen a lot of stand up shows ,been to a lot of stand up shows, and watch Bet's Comic View, but I have never seen anyone who could match the skills of Murphy on this show. The impressions are excellent, the skits are great, and the timing is perfect. You can even tell the crowd gets really into. When he did Raw a few years later it was also really good, but this is # 1 in my book. Also shows that at one time, particularly the early-to mid eighties, that Murphy was funny. My favorite parts of the show is when he is retelling the family barbecue and "Ice cream !!! Mooommmm!! The ice cream man is coming !!!!" Another great part is where his mom is like Clint Eastwood.