Critical Condition (1987) * *

 

Directed by:  Michael Apted

Starring:  Richard Pryor, Rachel Ticotin, Ruben Blades, Joe Mantegna, Bob Dishy, Bob Saget

Critical Condition is all over the map.  It wants to be a thoughtful satire, madcap comedy of errors, and an action picture all in one movie.  The tone continually shifts until we get whiplashed with Richard Pryor trying his mightiest to keep it all together.  There is an able supporting cast to back up Pryor, but even they seem overwhelmed.

Pryor is conman Kevin Lenahan, who is framed in a jewel robbery, but due to his track record he doesn't expect to be exonerated at trial.  Instead, he fakes insanity and finds himself soon pretending to be a doctor at a local hospital on a dark and stormy night where the power goes out.  Kevin (or Dr. Eddie Slattery as he calls himself when making the rounds), desperately attempts to conceal his identity while planning his escape.  He finds himself giving medical advice and leading around an intern (Saget) and a veteran doctor (Dishy) who is terrified of lawsuits, all the while assisting the beleaguered chief administrator (Ticotin) who is doing her best under the circumstances.

I recall first seeing the movie when it was first released in 1987.  I was a high school student then and I declared it one of the worst movies I had ever seen.  Upon second viewing, I certainly don't feel that way now.  It's not a good movie, just one that is at war with its motives and its methods.  It wants to be all things to the audience, but it doesn't work out that way.  It is also sad to know that Pryor began his battle with MS at the time of this movie's release and putting forth the energy must have been tough on him.  I give him and the movie credit for attempting what it wants to do, but there is too much ground to cover.