Film Overview"Critical Condition" is a 1987 American comedy movie directed by Michael Apted. With movie script by Denis Hamill and John Hamill, the film features distinguished star Richard Pryor ahead function, alongside Rachel Ticotin and Joe Mantegna.
Plot SynopsisRichard Pryor plays the character of Kevin Lenahan, a small-time con-man who masquerades as a money-cookie fortune writer. After a failed break-in, Kevin makes a desperate attempt to avoid jail by faking madness. Nevertheless, his strategy backfires when he is incorrectly confessed to a health center's psychiatric ward rather than its prison ward.
While in the health center, a storm strikes the city and disrupts the electrical supply, causing complete turmoil. On the other hand, Kevin disguises himself as a medical professional in an attempt to get away from the medical facility while his elegant habits draws in the attention of fellow patients, who ignore his real identity.
Intensifying EventsWithout any power and dwindling resources, the health center remains in a crisis. Recognizing the severity of the circumstance, Kevin curbs his effort to get away and instead starts handling the medical facility throughout this chaotic time. The guy with no medical background utilizes his quick wit and resourcefulness to deal with emergency situations and make essential choices for the clients and the medical facility personnel.
Along the way, he encounters Rachel, played by Rachel Ticotin, a nurse at the medical facility who gradually starts valuing Kevin's charisma and effort leading to an unspoken love between them. On the other hand, the real doctors and the police are on their method back to the healthcare facility, and Kevin now has to figure an escape strategy once again while managing the healthcare facility turmoil.
Climax and ConclusionThe movie reaches its climax as the hilarity and turmoil reach fever pitch. The healthcare facility's con artist "physician" needs to achieve a complex surgery, but with some luck and creativity (and an unexpected twist), he effectively performs the operation using non-traditional methods.
He likewise handles to expose the fraudulent activities of the genuine doctors who are more interested in their own profits instead of clients' health. Amidst all the chaos, Kevin ultimately gets caught however not without earning the affection and support from healthcare facility staff and clients. In the end, the court, considering his brave deeds, accepts decrease his sentence considerably.
Last Remarks"Critical Condition" functions as an unconventional and interesting comedy with a plot that offers amusing mishaps linked with minutes of heroism. Richard Pryor's genius shines through in a script tailored to his unique comic style and timing. Though the film didn't achieve considerable commercial success, it definitely cemented Pryor's track record as a funny legend.
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