ðə nˈuː jˈɔːɹk tˈaɪmz fˈɪlm kɹˈɪɾɪk dʒˈænɪt mˈæslɪn ɹᵻmˈɑːɹkt, "nˈoʊwˈʌn ɪn kɹˈɪɾɪkəl kəndˈɪʃən, wˌɪtʃ ˈoʊpənz tədˈeɪ æt lˈoʊwz stˈeɪt ænd ˈʌðɚ θˈiəɾɚz, ɪz wˈɜːkɪŋ æt tˈɑːp fˈɔːɹm, lˈiːst ʌv ˈɔːl mˈɪstɚ. pɹˈaɪɚ, hˌuː lˈʊks hˈæɡɚd ænd ˈædʒᵻtˌeɪɾᵻd mˈʌtʃ ʌvðə tˈaɪm.
The New York Times film critic Janet Maslin remarked, "No one in Critical Condition, which opens today at Loews State and other theaters, is working at top form, least of all Mr. Pryor, who looks haggard and agitated much of the time.