Eddie Murphy: Delirious

Originally recorded in 1983, this raucous comedy concert—outfitted with all-new special features for this DVD release—captures the Saturday Night Live alumnus in standup mode, just before the success of Beverly Hills Cop persuaded him to seek fame and fortune as a movie star. Since Murphy's films haven't all been winners (to say the least), revisiting this relic of his salad days is as instructive as it is entertaining: in fact, Delirious reminds us that a quarter-century ago Murphy was a hip, edgy performer whose dynamic stage presence and no-holds-barred material made him a top draw at premier nightspots and high-end comedy clubs. In this lightning-paced, hour-long set, he riffs on strict mothers, the challenges of puberty, teen dating, and seduction rituals, among other topics, while also poking fun at contemporary cultural icons (and even taking on the then-still-wildly-popular Michael Jackson). After seeing this performance, you can't help but wish that Murphy had taken another career path, sparing us The Nutty Professor and Doctor Doolittle remakes (not to mention Norbit) and concentrating instead on honing a standup act featuring the observational humor and social commentary that makes Delirious such a delight. DVD extras include a couple of deleted scenes and a new half-hour-plus interview with Murphy. Highly recommended. Aud: P. (E. Hulse)[DVD Review—June 9, 2009—Anchor Bay, 2 discs, 70 min., not rated, $29.98—Making its second appearance on DVD, 1983's Eddie Murphy: Delirious (25th Anniversary Edition) sports a great transfer. DVD extras include a 35-minute interview with star Eddie Murphy, a 28-minute “making-of” featurette, and five minutes of deleted scenes. Bottom line: a fine extras package for an excellent standup comedy concert film.]