Critical Condition (1987) User Reviews

Richard Pryor makes it better than it should be

[MovieAddict2016 · 6/10 · 30 January 2006]

This rather mediocre comedy from 1987 was produced at the height of Richard Pryor's (somewhat unfortunate) lapse into brain dead motion picture comedies. However, like most of his films, Pryor made standard, silly concepts -- in this case, a man mistaken for a doctor forced into pretending to be on -- amusing.

Pryor plays a framed jewel thief who pleads insanity and is sent to a hospital for mental check-ups. However, once there is is mistaken for an actual doctor, and continues the charade to avoid being charged with a crime he didn't commit, etc.

It's got a lot of obvious jokes that get old in five minutes - this would be an effective "SNL" skit, NOT a full-length movie. The problem with standard concepts such as these is mainly that once you've accomplished your goal -- ha ha a man pretending to be a doctor who doesn't know anything about medical practice, that's hilarious! -- there's nowhere left to go. So they add boring and uninteresting subplots, typically romances which end with the mistaken man confessing he isn't who the woman who loves him thought he was, they break up, and then they get back together again for a happy ending in which she realizes that she really loves him for who he is, not for what he is.

That said, Pryor makes this entertaining - more so than it should be.

One Flew Into The Cuckoo's Nest

[boblipton · 6/10 · 23 May 2019]

Confidence man Richard Pryor is caught with dangerous racketeers and is found guilty of the same crimes. To delay, he pretends to be crazy. He is sent to the psychiatric ward of a hospital for appraisal. While he is trying to escape, a storm strikes, the hospital is cut off from the mainland, and the power goes. Because he is wearing a lab coat, people think he is a doctor and look to him to take charge.

It's not the best comedy Pryor ever starred in, nor anywhere near the best movie Michael Apted directed.. He didn't write the script and has only one scene of wild improvization. Nonetheless, the role is a good fit for him and despite the foreordained ending, there are good moments. Bob Dishy is excellent as a surgeon who starts out thinking of nothing but legal liability. Bob Saget is very good as a resident lacking all self confidence, and Wesley Snipes can be spotted in an early, tiny role.

Not the best conditions, but this one's stable

[videorama-759-859391 · 6/10 · 26 February 2014]

For a Pryor film, this one is disappointing, or may'be I just found it weaker than normal, but anything with Richie in, is worth it. Here in a great titled flick, he's a framed escapee, made a psychotic patient, that has him now masquerading as a hectic doctor. But the jobs does have it's perks, with Pryor examining a young hottie's goodies, one standout scene in the whole mad affair. This film is very entertaining, though, as in seeing how Richie will get out of this. The film has a very interesting cast, including a bit part with Wesley Snipes as an ambo, and Joe Mantegna, has a heartless, hospital director, who's taken a hostage by our loonies. The cast on the patient's arm scene with Pryor laying the cast on pretty thick, with Pryor showing a young intern, was another funny moment. As was too, him trying to convince the hospital board of his psychotic state, when he describes in unsavoury and disturbing detail, pictures that our show to him. The film's not unfunny. It's just not as funny as most of Pryor's stuff, where as you know, with his films, the bar is set pretty high. It's still bloody enjoyable, the "what a shame factor" present. Again in the end, it all ends well, for our framed ex con/conman, Pryor. Still one for Pryor fans.

Beginning of Pryor's MS

[warrennotes · 13 October 2020]

During an interview with Johnny Carson to promote this movie, Pryor mentioned that he had a 20 lb. weight loss and couldn't gain it back. A battery of medical tests found no problem. The next day, he lost the vision in his right eye. We now know that this was the beginning of his MS.

Even Richard Pryor Can't Save This One

[webizco · 3/10 · 5 October 2011]

As much as I love Richard Pryor, this movie is well, awful. I haven't seen this movie in years and recently watched it on one of the paid movie services. I originally saw it when it was released in the theaters because I have always followed Richard Pryor's career. The concept of the movie just doesn't fly and having Randall "Tex" Cobb as a main character didn't help any. Honestly, I won't invest another hour and a half to ever watching this again. There are also some other "B" actors such as Joe Mantegna and Bob Saget but they are not very good either in this movie. Sorry Richard, you are a great performer but this movie stinks.

Critical condition delivers a few laughs

[treakle_1978 · 7/10 · 4 October 2018]

Richard Pryor pulls off a good performance as Kevin and a doctor.Bob saget and the rest of the cast perform well.it's enjoyable and I'd recommend it to all adult audiences.

Forgettable Pryor Film

[view_and_review · 3/10 · 25 August 2019]

Pryor plays a fledgling businessman that gets busted with a briefcase full of hot diamonds. To avoid going to jail he pretends to be insane. The judge isn't convinced by his act but decides to have him evaluated out of an abundance of caution.

While at a hospital for clinical review Kevin Lanahan (Richard Pryor) gets the opportunity to break out and takes it, except he can't even leave the New York island he's on due to a hurricane. Furthermore, due to an assumption made by a new hospital administrator, he goes on to pretend to be a doctor.

By this movie Pryor was too old and frail looking to be doing some of the silly stunts he was doing: pretending to be crazy in court, pretending to be a dog, pretending to masturbate to a Rorschach test. It was lame comedy that provided no laughs.

Let's just say that this won't be one of Pryor's more memorable films.

Pretty Decent, But Never Hits Hard

[gavin6942 · 6/10 · 12 August 2016]

Con man Kevin Lennihan (Richard Pryor), framed in a jewel smuggling, tries for an insanity plea and is sent to a hospital for review where he is confused with a doctor and takes over the hospital when a major storm hits.

I had never heard of this film until now (2016), which is a bit of a shame. Pryor is great, and it's awesome to see Bob Saget in a supporting role (though he isn't really given any funny lines). Joe Mantegna is here, too. This seems like it should be some sort of cult classic, but in stead it is forgotten.

And there may be a reason for that. Despite the funny premise, and some great moments, it never feels as funny as it should be. I don't know why. Is the script not polished enough? Is the director to blame? Or is it just very understated?

"I'm not a pro. I'm a bull-sh!tter"

[lost-in-limbo · 5/10 · 8 July 2012]

Tick off another Richard Pryor comedy vehicle, which actually wasn't too bad even though it had him playing the same sort of comic role and the humour could be put off by its heavy-handed running themes. Pryor stars as an ex-con who poses as a psycho to get out of a jail sentence, so the judge sends him to a hospital where he would find himself posing as an emergency room doctor one night in his attempt to escape during a cyclone because the doctors don't believe him to be insane. This hospital comedy is zany, crude and very often unhinged, as Pryor plays it neurotic with a certain deadpan quality and across him was the lovely Rachel Ticotin. The support cast surrounding him are quite good in their deliveries. Ruben Blades, Sylvia Miles, Joe Mantegna, Bob Dishy, Garrett Morris, Randel "Tex" Cobb, Bob Saget and John Polito. The hodge podge story throws around many ideas and gags in a downright chaotic manner, from mistaken identity to offbeat medical techniques and displaying confidence in those around you to act upon your own judgement leading the way. "Critical Condition" is far from a lethal injection, as in the end it all comes together in an amusing haphazard way led by the likable comedian Pryor.

"He doesn't need a second opinion".

Pretty funny 80's comedy starring Richard Pryor

[dworldeater · 7/10 · 29 May 2020]

Critical Condition is a wild and outrageous 80's comedy starting comic legend Richard Pryor. This sort of role was familiar to Pryor as he plays a con man with a heart of gold. Pryor plays Kevin Lannahan who in his attempt to get a loan for his investment from The Mob, ends up being part of a sting operation and gets a prison sentence. With The Mob blaming him, Kevin's life is in danger. To try to avoid prison, he pretends to be insane and gets sent to a mental hospital, while in the hospital, there is a hurricane and in this crisis situation, he pretends to be a doctor and ends up running the hospital. Critical Condition is a pretty insane comedy that largely works due to the comic genius of Richard Pryor. Of Richard Pryor's films, Critical Condition is overlooked, which is a shame as I think the movie is very funny and better than a lot of stuff from this period that recieves more fanfare.

I didn't laugh once...

[tim-764-291856 · 2/10 · 11 August 2012]

Though the subject had potential and one or two jokes were reasonable, this comedy really did fall flat on its face. Though I appreciate Richard Pryor when he's good and has decent material, I was never a follower of him, so hold no allegiance to the comic, so no extra points just because he stars.

It looks as if it was made in the 1970's, as were the attitudes to all the poorly targeted subjects within it. Bumbling, obvious slapstick followed by cheap, unfunny stereotyping at the psychiatric hospital. This where the potential lay, but not taken.

The worse bits were to come - mawkish melodrama where the 'patient' becomes the Emergency Room consultant and Pryor tries to bond with the poor suffering patients. The 'romance' even worse. I almost wanted hospital treatment myself! However, the sidekick scenario of a power cut due to a thunderstorm and thus everybody on life support etc getting in all sorts of trouble was a good one and about the only redeeming feature.

Unfortunately, the ending that seemed to be a shoot-out (I lost the will to care, let alone work out who) was very tedious and boring and I willed it all to be over, by any means necessary, including a power-cut in my home!

rare Pryor Gem

[hot_yelland · 9/10 · 30 December 2005]

A highly underrated film that is filled with Pryor's subtle brand of caustic humor.

If you have never seen this rent it tonight! Possibly Pryor's Citizen Kane.

Yes, I said it! This film may be slow in the script dept. but follow Pryor's every move and you will laugh your a$# off!! Garret Morris and Randall "Tex" Cobb are highlites to watch for. Bob Saget gets a nod for showing up.

Thanks Richard, you made us laugh, and did so admirably. You will not be missed, thanks to reruns and DVD's.

CPR brought this back to life because it's timelier even today.

[mark.waltz · 7/10 · 5 November 2023]

Even in his most mediocre films, Richard Pryor always manages to insert a huge heart and a compassionate view of humanity as even when he's not the writer, he's a terrific story teller just through the way he brings out even the smallest of issues through his character's eyes. His charm and smile reveals the knowledge that sometimes it's better for the inmates to run the asylum and all the education and titles in the world doesn't make for a great human being. In a sense, he was the Groucho Marxx of the 70's and 80's, and here, he's repeating the Groucho in a white lab coat with stethoscope that was a hysterical visual in the 1930's and just as funny with Pryor in this.

A New York City hospital is understaffed and overworked, and a severe thunderstorm has them even more perplexed. Beautiful administrator Rachel Ticotin has her hands full keeping the staff from walking out, while pompous doctor Bob Dishy ("I'm a surgeon. I never talk to patients") and other upper management (Joe Mantega who desegedly gets locked jn the mental ward) don't seem to understand what the hospital needs just to get through a difficult night whichvincludes other escaped criminals roaming the hospital. A young Bob Saget as an intern plays it straight, and cast against type Sylvia Miles as a plain speaking nurse never goes for the abrasiveness of her usual characterizations and for once isn't scary.

As for Pryor in this, he's a combination of every great character on screen: a bit smarmy (he's a jewel smuggler), caustic, honest as far as humanitarian causes are concerned (applause for the way he takes down Dishy), and with Ticotin (the first hospital administrator outside of "General Hospital's" Dan Rooney not to be an overly strict titan), soft. She's absolutely lovely. Does this film have problems? Certainly. It's far from believable that Pryor would get away with claiming he's the new chief of staff, but the way it's done is irresistible, big hearted and sweet. Definitely underrated in its time.

You know you're in trouble when the title says it all...

[Rodrigo_Amaro · 4/10 · 25 March 2014]

Never trust the ratings in here, some say from time to time, cause they never reveal what lies beneath some underrated precious jewels and also some overrated classics. "Critical Condition", however, deserves the current negative evaluation, not much because it's a terrible picture, cause it's not in fact. The problem is that the movie is so misguided despite its effective (and few) positive scenes that you suspect the talented people involved in its making were way over their heads in thinking they're creating good comedy. Richard Pryor alone, only in stand-up routines, and we all know it that his films worked better if he had a partner - not even if a brief companion being Pryor and Gene Wilder one of the most interesting duos of comedy. But the supporting cast assembled makes this a little enjoyable, though not going too far.

I believe the setting given here would benefit more a thriller/horror movie than a comedy but if the writers think they can find real humor in it, well, it's their opinion. Pryor is a scam lawyer who is sent to jail after being framed in a suspected deal with some mobsters. Knowing that he's about to get killed in prison, he acts like an insane person during trial much to everyone's belief and sent to treatment on a mental facility for 21 days in order to establish if his crazy or not. But during a huge storm that cuts the power and contacts of the place, he manages to get out of the psychiatric warden and ends up getting confused as an important medical doctor whose arriving was long waited there. Now it's up to this fake doctor to help the staff of this chaotic hospital filled with regular patients (who comes up with this stuff, a mental hospital glued next to a regular facility?), managing his best and worst in a place with almost no electricity, with its disappearing administrator and with a dangerous criminal (Joe Dallesandro) on the loose, and just like him also trying to get away from there.

Half an hour goes by without any laughs, and almost with no understanding of what those loud characters are saying for the most part. Only when the absurd starts to take place is that movie progresses, gets a little involving yet eternally confusing and lacking in substance. But already too late. And what Michael Apted was doing with this comedy? He's trustworthy directing drama and action flicks; his direction here feels very uninspired, more like "in it for the money" (and I bet no one got paid all that much). I'm not recommending "Critical Condition" but if you wanna see it for yourself there's room for enjoyment in scenes like the "Apocalypse Now" parody with Pryor putting a helicopter inside of the hospital to generate energy in the building; the great presence of Rachel Ticotin as the substitute administrator, a fine dramatic effort in showing how important decision must be during troubled conditions; Bob Dishy finally getting a noteworthy and extended role as the doctor who puts pressure on everybody including Pryor. Randall 'Tex' Cobb, Joe Mantegna, Bob Saget, Sylvia Miles Jon Polito and a few others have fine roles, the best they could get.

Well, final diagnosis: not worthy of much attention, suffers from a severe case of lack of great humor, and it's almost a waste of time. The medication for it can be found in all other Pryor's movies. This one is just wrong. 4/10

Long on potential, short on results

[NxNWRocks · 4/10 · 19 August 2007]

Basically a vehicle for Pryor, this is a rough and somewhat ugly movie, disfigured in part by a surfeit of swearing in a film that doesn't need it and a bunch of vaguely unsympathetic characters. The central plot – a framed man who has claimed insanity has to pretend to be a doctor during a blackout at a hospital – is intriguing if somewhat convoluted. As a twist on the fish-out-of-water story, it has much potential, in the same way that Woody Allen's "Hollywood Ending" has much potential in its premise of a suddenly-blind director having to go through the entire shoot without letting anyone know he is blind. Just as with that movie, "Critical Condition" mainly fails to capitalize on its potential, and the film is oddly slow-moving and genuine laughs are hard to come by.

Pryor does well to work with the underdeveloped material, and Rachel Ticotin adds solid support in the role of the hospital administrator. There is a nice addition of a subplot involving crooks roaming the hospital to add to the tension of the staff and patients trying to survive the power outage, and the film as a whole is at least watchable, but not very memorable. It does not have widespread appeal as a comedy/thriller and should probably be best recommended for Pryor fans only.

An Ole Favorite...

[bronzesrv · 8/10 · 29 October 2018]

One of my favorites since it first came out when I was in high school. Richard is funny and crazy as ever! I love this movie cause it focuses him of getting his priorities in order and to reevaluate his life! Randall "Tex" Cobb was also very funny in this one!