Delirious (1991)
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44% of critics liked it
(9 reviews) -
44% of users liked it
(2,891 ratings)
John Candy plays Jack Gable, a soap-opera writer who finds himself trapped inside his own television program with a magic typewriter in this toothless comedy. Jack finds himself embroiled in protecting his beloved Laura (Emma Samms), an actress who plays Rachel Hedison in Jack's show --… More John Candy plays Jack Gable, a soap-opera writer who finds himself trapped inside his own television program with a magic typewriter in this toothless comedy. Jack finds himself embroiled in protecting his beloved Laura (Emma Samms), an actress who plays Rachel Hedison in Jack's show -- "Beyond Our Dreams" -- from having her character being killed off by the program's producers, the Sherwoods (Jerry Orbach, Renee Taylor). Laura has recently broken off with her co-star and lover Dennis (David Rasche) and is heading off for a weekend with Jack. As Jack unloads Laura's luggage, he conks himself on the head and knocks himself out. He awakens in a town bearing a name similar to the town in his soap opera. Dennis is on hand, but as his character in the show -- Dr. Paul Kirkland. Jack realizes that he has found himself in an alternative world made up of his soap opera world -- particularly apparent when he is recognized as Jack Gates, "the Wolf of Wall Street." Jack then meets Laura, who, in this soap opera world, is actually Janet Dubois, the daughter of a late biochemist who invented a pill that allows anyone to eat whatever they want and not gain any weight. The unscrupulous Hedison family (Raymond Burr, Charles Rocket, Dylan Baker) want to steal the formula for the pill and make a fortune for their pharmaceutical company. Jack then discovers that he can exit and re-enter the show at will and can alter the narrative of the show however he wants by typing up new plot points on his typewriter. In order to save Laura's character from the Sherwoods, Jack re-writes the show to save Janet by having his own character come to her rescue at the last minute. ~ Paul Brenner, Rovi
- Directed By
- Tom Mankiewicz
- Genres
- Science Fiction & Fantasy, Comedy
PG,
- In Theaters
- Aug 9, 1991 Wide
- Studio
- MGM Home Entertainment
Critic Reviews
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Brian Orndorf, BrianOrndorf.com
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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Kevin A. Ranson, MovieCrypt.com
John Candy goooooood!
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Fred Topel, About.com
Excellent comedy. Really plays the soap opera and magic typewriter gimmicks to the fullest.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
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Cast
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John Candy
as Jack Gable
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Mariel Hemingway
as Janet Dubois, Louise
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Emma Samms
as Rachel Hedison/Laura Claybourne
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Raymond Burr
as Carter Hedison
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Robert Wagner
as Jack Gates
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Dylan Baker
as Blake Hedison
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David Rasche
as Dr. Paul Kirkland--Dennis
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Charles Rocket
as Ty
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Andrea Thompson
as Nurse Helen Caldwell
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Zach Grenier
as Mickey
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Jerry Orbach
as Lou Sherwood
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Renée Taylor
as Arlene Sherwood
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Brooke Ashley
as Cheerleader
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John Michael Bolger
as Len
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Mark Boone Jr.
as Cable Man
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Patrick Bristow
as Bellboy
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Peter Bromilow
as Auctioneer
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Michael Caldwell
as Busboy
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Jay Della Valle
as Ashford Falls Cable Man
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Glenn Dixon
as Elderly Man
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Dick Durock
as Riley
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Rita Gomez
as Marge
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Marvin Kaplan
as Typewriter Repairman
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Fred Morsell
as Choking Man
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Milt Oberman
as Fetterman
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Zach Phifer
as Attendant
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Jason Ross-Azikiwe
as Manu
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Murray Rubin
as Manny
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Anthony Schmidt
as Mason
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Stephanie Segal
as TV Reporter
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Tony Steedman
as Edward the Butler
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Elaine Swayneson
as Secretary
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Paul Tuerpé
as Waiter
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Bill Wittman
as Soap Announcer
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Mark Zuelke
as Chauffeur
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Susan Isaacs
as Marie
