Delirious

It’s not difficult to see why Eddie Murphy has been hesitant to allow the DVD release of Delirious, as the filmed concert is teeming with harsh language, racial stereotypes, and an overall vibe of vulgarity – which is certainly a far cry from the family-friendly image the erstwhile comedian has adopted for himself in recent years. And while the movie does seem to have its fans, there’s just no overlooking the general lack of laughs – with this problem compounded by Murphy’s decidedly antiquated views on various topics (eg homosexuality). For every joke that does work (eg a humorous routine on men and their willingness to openly fart around each other), there are another dozen or so that just fall completely flat (eg Murphy’s hacky schtick on the differences between white people and black people). The inclusion of an absolutely interminable bit in which Murphy discusses his abusive, alcoholic father ensures that Delirious will primarily appeal to the comedian’s fans, as there’s exceedingly little here to draw in neophytes.

** out of ****