Delirious (1991)

hyped garbage

Fun premise, good actors, bad writing. This film seemed to have potential at the beginning but it quickly devolves into a trite action film. Ultimately it's very boring.

I am only giving this movie a 1 for the great cast, though I can't imagine what any of them were thinking. This movie was horrible

Great example of an old-fashioned, pure-at-heart escapist event movie that doesn't pretend to be anything that it's not and has boat loads of fun being its own ludicrous self.

This movie is a rollicking meditation on the Incarnation. Christian apologists sometimes use the metaphor of a novelist writing himself into his story to explain the implications of Christmas. Play with that idea a bit ... suppose the maker of a world (in this case, a soap opera writer) finds himself inside his world, with all of his creative powers intact? Able to continue writing the story, but this time from the inside? Ah, the perils of being able to get exactly what you ask for! Just to make life even more interesting, a rival writer is also wrestling with the plot line. "Delirious" makes a convincing argument that our Lord's decision to adopt a cameo role was for the best. A flamboyant messiah can't help but warp the thoughts, deeds, and self-awareness of those around him. I strongly recommend this movie for Christian parents who are trying to explain the miracle of Christmas to their children (some bad language). Or for people who do not share this faith, but are curious about those who do.

Slightly along the lines of My Aunt Julia and the Scriptwriter but the other way around and with fantasy rather than contrivance, with similar comedy and cheesy soap opera acting/story lines. It's silly, ridiculous but typical of soap opera shenanigans and it's quite a good spoof in that regard. John Candy is typical John Candy and everyone else is over-the-top, including Robert Wagner as himself and Raymond Burr in a comedic role, and Jerry Orbach too! Delirious is a crazy romp set in a fantasy town created by a lovesick soap opera scriptwriter. In a concussion-induced delirium Jack Gable (Candy) thinks he's inside his own soap opera and uses his writing to make himself into a dashing hero. It's Hollywood schmaltz but rather enjoyable and good for silly giggles. Lots of silly stunts (pretty impressive horsemanship) but shockingly bad sound/dubbing and there's lots of holes in the production. Overall a nice rainy afternoon watch. Wouldn't recommend it or necessarily watch it again although I really like John Candy, however, this was by no means Uncle Buck.

There are only a few actors in the same category as John Candy when it comes to 90's comedy. The reasons that this movie does not rank as one of the best movies of its genre are a good,not great, script, no special effects, and only one star. Unlike movies with good scripts, and single stars, Groundhog Day and Uncle Buck, there was nothing to be done with this premise. For other movies with missed potential one needs look no farther than movies like Godfather 3, Bram Stokers Dracula, Waterworld, The Fan, etc. The difference between those movies and this one is that the star had nothing to do with any of the films perceived problems. If you like John Candy, and if you don't you are an idiot, this is a great flick. His other movies that are worth an evening, doesn't matter which evening they are worth showing up late for work, are Uncle Buck, The Great Outdoors, Plains Trains and Automobiles, Once Upon a Crime, Brewster's Millions, Spaceballs, Stripes, Nothing but Trouble, and Who's Harry Crumb. They are all a little zany, except for Planes Trains and Automobiles which is still one of the only movies that will make me cry no matter when, how or, who I see it with. Want proof that Candy can act, watch Planes he plays such a sad and honest character that there is no doubt that he has what it takes. John Candy is one of the Great comedic actors of the second golden age of American cinema, he is set apart from other notables by his lack of personal problems, his candor, and zest for life. We should all be as fortunate as he for the blessings he was given. Mr. Candy you are and will be missed, and for as long as there are roofs there will be those of us who shout your name from atop them.Long Live SCTV, John Candy and the best Julia Child I have ever seen.

An enjoyable premise and pulled off really well in spots, Delirious is a fun film that spoofs soap's (similar to the TV show Soap)by allowing a soap writer played by John Candy to dream that he is in the soap opera he writes for. While it the dream, he can change what is happening each moment by simply typing it out on his typewriter, most of what he writes involves his anger toward the shows other writers and a vehicle to make himself a sexy leading man while wooing his love interest played by Emma Sands. Because at some moments Candy's character is simply trying to get rid of people, Candy writes some funny, if weird, things that the characters can't even figure out why they are doing them.Although the movie lags in places, it has some of the funniest lines I have ever heard in movies, especially the Robert Wagner lines about Cleveland and the running gag about cable TV repairmen and having to wait for them. The cable gag is really dated (I haven't had black bar issues in about 15 years)as is other parts of the film, but it still works.Raymond Burr does a great deadpan job in his final theatrical performance. Muriel Hemmingway really stinks it up, the rest of the cast is made up of soap actors who do a nice job of spoofing their own genre.Another good flick that spoofs soaps is Soapdish, does not have the fantasy piece of Delirious, but is also very funny.