With a new film ("Norbit") opening Friday and a likely Oscar win for "Dreamgirls" later in the month, Eddie Murphy's career is in high gear again.

So, the timing of this week's DVD release of "Delirious" (Starz Home Entertainment) is perfect.

The video captures a 1983 concert performance by Murphy at Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C. which came on the heels of his hugely successful debut film, 1982's "48 HRS."

Murphy's rise to the top of Hollywood was swift and spectacular. The comic was featured on "Saturday Night Live" for less than a year when he was tapped for "48 HRS."

Murphy was only 21 when he made his film debut; he would go on to become one of the most popular stars of the 1980s.

"48 HRS" was followed by the 1983 hit, "Trading Places" and then the 1984 blockbuster, "Beverly Hills Cop," which was one of the top grossing films of the 1980s.

Murphy reached a pinnacle of automatic box-office success that, unfortunately, allowed him to walk through many mediocre movies such as "Harlem Nights" (1989), the awful "Beverly Hills Cop" sequels and "The Distinguished Gentleman" (1994).

Audiences tired of the comic in the 1990s but then he staged a huge comeback as a star of family-oriented fare.

"Delirious" is fun to watch as a time-capsule from Murphy's big lift-off to superstardom. The audience is clearly thrilled to be in the same room as the new star and Murphy prowls the stage with charismatic assurance in an Elvis-style red leather outfit.

Sadly,

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"Delirious" demonstrates that Murphy was better at sketch comedy and scripted films than as a stand-up.

The material in "Delirious" is seriously dated and the show opens with a blast of shockingly homophobic material (including multiple uses of the slur that put "Grey's Anatomy" star Isaiah Washington in hate language rehab recently).

The extras on "Delirious" are more interesting than the show itself, including a recent Murphy interview with Byron Allen in which he talks about his long and varied career.

Murphy clearly idolized Richard Pryor — and talks about the late great performer at length in the Allen interview — but he didn't have enough non-show biz life experience at 22 to present a stand-up act that holds up the way that Pryor's best material does. New on video:

THE SCIENCE OF SLEEP (Warner Home Video) — Dreamy and romantic, writer-director Michel ("Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind") Gondry's 2006 film follows a Paris artist (Gael Garcia Bernal) who can't tell the difference between his waking life and his fantasy world.

Charlotte Gainsbourg plays the charming next door neighbor who becomes the artist's love object.

Gondry is one of the few contemporary filmmakers who has a brain as well as an eye — "Sleep" is stunning visually, but it also gives you something to think about after you leave the theater.

(Rated R for brief nudity.)

"Delirious" and "The Science of Sleep" are now available at area video retailers.