This rather mediocre comedy from 1987 was produced at the height of Richard Pryor's (somewhat unfortunate) lapse into brain dead motion picture comedies. However, like most of his films, Pryor made standard, silly concepts -- in this case, a man mistaken for a doctor forced into pretending to be on -- amusing.

Pryor plays a framed jewel thief who pleads insanity and is sent to a hospital for mental check-ups. However, once there is is mistaken for an actual doctor, and continues the charade to avoid being charged with a crime he didn't commit, etc.

It's got a lot of obvious jokes that get old in five minutes - this would be an effective "SNL" skit, NOT a full-length movie. The problem with standard concepts such as these is mainly that once you've accomplished your goal -- ha ha a man pretending to be a doctor who doesn't know anything about medical practice, that's hilarious! -- there's nowhere left to go. So they add boring and uninteresting subplots, typically romances which end with the mistaken man confessing he isn't who the woman who loves him thought he was, they break up, and then they get back together again for a happy ending in which she realizes that she really loves him for who he is, not for what he is.

That said, Pryor makes this entertaining - more so than it should be.

Confidence man Richard Pryor is caught with dangerous racketeers and is found guilty of the same crimes. To delay, he pretends to be crazy. He is sent to the psychiatric ward of a hospital for appraisal. While he is trying to escape, a storm strikes, the hospital is cut off from the mainland, and the power goes. Because he is wearing a lab coat, people think he is a doctor and look to him to take charge.

It's not the best comedy Pryor ever starred in, nor anywhere near the best movie Michael Apted directed.. He didn't write the script and has only one scene of wild improvization. Nonetheless, the role is a good fit for him and despite the foreordained ending, there are good moments. Bob Dishy is excellent as a surgeon who starts out thinking of nothing but legal liability. Bob Saget is very good as a resident lacking all self confidence, and Wesley Snipes can be spotted in an early, tiny role.

Con man Kevin Lennihan (Richard Pryor), framed in a jewel smuggling, tries for an insanity plea and is sent to a hospital for review where he is confused with a doctor and takes over the hospital when a major storm hits.

I had never heard of this film until now (2016), which is a bit of a shame. Pryor is great, and it's awesome to see Bob Saget in a supporting role (though he isn't really given any funny lines). Joe Mantegna is here, too. This seems like it should be some sort of cult classic, but in stead it is forgotten.

And there may be a reason for that. Despite the funny premise, and some great moments, it never feels as funny as it should be. I don't know why. Is the script not polished enough? Is the director to blame? Or is it just very understated?