6 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.0 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
Jack is the head writer for a successful soap opera, and he's sweet on the show's star, lovely Laura. It's easy for everyone but Jack to see that she's playing him for a sap. But a conk on the head brings Jack some new insights - and some new powers. He finds himself in Ashford Falls, site of his fictional soap opera -- and everything he writes comes true! It's a fantastic opportunity to get Rachel, Laura's character, to fall in love with him. But life isn't easy even in the fictional world, and even when you're the author!
Starring: John Candy, Mariel Hemingway, Emma Samms, Robert Wagner, Raymond BurrComedy | 100% |
Imaginary | 9% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 (48kHz, 16-bit)
English SDH
25GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region A (locked)
Movie | 2.0 | |
Video | 3.0 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 1.0 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
A towering talent and beloved personality, John Candy was a special screen presence. An expert with timing and temper, Candy contributed to some of the finest comedic works during his media reign, with projects such as “SCTV,” “Stripes,” “Uncle Buck,” and “Planes, Trains & Automobiles” just a few of his achievements. He was the best, but there’s a painful truth to Candy’s legacy: he wasn’t always a good judge of quality when picking jobs. He never gave a bad performance, but he toplined more than a few stinkers, with gigs like “Armed and Dangerous,” “Summer Rental,” and “Wagons East” helping to temper enthusiasm for Candy’s filmography. 1991’s “Delirious” is one of those lesser Candy offerings, though it never lacks in sheer velocity. Director Tom Mankiewicz certainly has a vision for a romp through soap opera clichés, but there’s very little successful humor in the feature, which usually doesn’t have the writing to back up the satire. It’s broad work, never boring, but “Delirious” periodically comes across winded and unprepared, stranding Candy in the middle of a farce that never catches fire, dependent on its star to handle much of the silly business.
Age is apparent while watching the AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation, which doesn't offer "Delirious" fans a fully refreshed viewing event. Colors are a tad muted, but the explosive costuming and set design of the feature pushes back with aggressive primaries, keeping some of the intended punch. Detail isn't strong, battling inherently gauzy cinematography and an older master, but close-ups keep some definition, and more outrageous fabrics remain textured. Delineation is serviceable, but a few evening encounters missing stronger blacks. Source is in comfortable shape, with some speckling detected.
Scoring is a surprising highlight of the 2.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix, which offers true presence for the anarchic music, keeping instrumentation alert and supportive, providing the energy the film needs. The few soundtrack selections are also satisfactory, adding a pop zip to the listening experience. Dialogue exchanges are steady, preserving performance speed and extremity without slipping into distortion, and group activity is communicated cleanly. Atmospherics are lively, capturing TV studio bustle and Ashford Falls interactions. The track is a touch on the quiet side, requiring a slight volume boost to enjoy, but no hiss is detected.
"Delirious" fights hard to be liked, offering an animated score from Cliff Eidelman that's bigger than anything onscreen, wildly swinging from comedy to romantic sensitivities, doing what it can to create the illusion of entertainment as the picture slowly runs out of ideas. There's plenty of slapstick, car chases, and broad performances to keep up the pace, and the production deserves credit for securing Prince's titular tune for the main titles, adding a welcome bit of pop punch to launch the effort on the right foot. The movie isn't a trainwreck, but it doesn't come near the manic pitch of mischief Mankiewicz is after, struggling to deal with its moving parts as it mangles broad humor and slips out of control. It appears as though Mankiewicz wanted to conduct his own triumphant slapstick symphony with "Delirious." He just brought the wrong sheet music to share with his cast.
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