CRITICAL CONDITION (1987)

MORGAN'S RATING

The story mixes outrageous comedy with a big dose of suspense as it portrays the chaotic aftermath of a power failure in a big-city hospital. Playing a convicted criminal who fakes insanity to avoid going to prison, Richard Pryor winds up in the hospital's mental ward. During the blackout he disguises himself as a doctor and the zaniness begins.

Richard Pryor (Eddie / Kevin), Rachel Ticotin (Rachel Atwood), Ruben Blades (Louis), Maria Cardinale, Joe Mantegna (Chambers), Bob Dishy (Dr. Foster), Sylvia Miles (Maggie), Joe Dallesandro (Stucky), Randall 'Tex' Cobb (Box), Bob Saget (Dr. Joffe), Joseph Ragno (Palazzi), Jon Polito (Kline), Garrett Morris (Helicopter Junkie), Brian Tarantina (Tommy Pinto), Jude Ciccolella (Jack Kinney), Cigdem Onat (Dr. Hoffman), Lucius Houghton (Fido), Joe Aufiery (Prosecutor), Kate McGregor-Stewart (Nurse Mary), Randell Haynes (Jackson), Al White (Reggie), Denis Hamill, John Hamill (Maintanence Men),  Wesley Snipes (Ambulance Driver).

A COMEDY OF EPIDEMIC PROPORTIONS.

FACTS

PRODUCTION INFORMATION

RELEASE DATE: January 16th, 1987 (USA) DVD RELEASE DATE: July 6th, 2004 (USA) BOX OFFICE OPENING: $5.7 million (USA) BOX OFFICE RESULT: $20.2 million (USA)

DIRECTORS: Michael Apted (The World Is Not Enough). WRITERS: Denis Hamill and John Hamill. PRODUCERS: Robert W. Cort and Robert Larson. ASSOCIATE PRODUCER: Eric Lerner. ORIGINAL MUSIC: Alan Silvestri. DISTRIBUTOR: Paramount Pictures.

CRITICAL COMMENTS

"It hurts to see Pryor so gaunt and passive, such a shadow of his many selves. He is almost a specter, floating uncomfortably through this film as if he knew it was a bad idea from the start." -- Richard Harrington, Washington Post