When a con artist named Kevin (Pryor) is framed for racketeering, he finds himself facing a lifetime in prison. Feigning insanity seems like the easy way to avoid the slammer, and Kevin is brought to Empire State Hospital for evaluation. But things get really nuts when a power outage hits, and the crazy-like-a-fox Kevin impersonates a doctor in order to make his escape. As the night goes on, chaos ensues … and Kevin finds that he’s the only one who can take charge and maintain order.

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Video Quality

Critical Condition debuted on Blu-Ray in 2023 with a passable digital AVC encoded 1080p transfer derived from an older master that could use a refresh with its shortcomings. The transfer retains a decent amount of natural film grain, although there appears to be a noticeable amount of processing applied. Minor print damage shows up fairly frequently, but it is an overall clear viewing experience. This is not the crispest image we have ever seen, but fine detail can be observed in the clothing and backgrounds. Colors are somewhat dull yet stand out in certain moments in terms of saturation. Black levels come up short with crush and compression artifacts occasionally visible in this presentation. Skin tones are consistent and natural across the ensemble. This feature could look a lot better with a bit more care and attention, but it does what you need it to if you want a lazy HD presentation.

Audio Quality

This Blu-Ray presents the film with a DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio track that improves upon the video side of things while still showing signs of age. The humorous dialogue comes through clearly in collaboration with all competing sounds. The environmental effects, such as rain and the chatter in the hallways, are delineated without turning into sonic sludge. The soundtrack presents a fleshed-out experience for audiences. Nearly every tune emerges with a sturdy fidelity, but you do hear some slight strain in some notes. Shout! Studios has done just fine here. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided.

Special Features

Theatrical Trailer (1:28)

Final Thoughts

Critical Condition is not the ultimate Richard Pryor laugh-fest, but it delivers what you want from a standard ‘80s comedy. Pryor works well with this talented ensemble of colorful characters, and the film keeps a good pace throughout its runtime. The tonal balance gets a bit askew as you barrel towards the end, but it is not enough to derail the proceedings. Shout! Studios has provided a Blu-Ray featuring a dusty A/V presentation and almost zero special features. Fans of Richard Pryor will want to complete their collection, but casual audiences may want to sample before they buy.

Critical Condition is currently available to purchase on Blu-Ray.

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: Shout! Studios has supplied a copy of this set free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.