John Candy was a Canadian treasure. So, it makes sense that another Canadian treasure, Ryan Reynolds, would be involved in a project designed to honor his tremendous body of work. For the documentary John Candy: I Like Me, Reynolds serves as a producer alongside actor Colin Hanks, the latter of whom also directs.
Chances are you know Candy from one of his most notable projects, whether it was SCTV (effectively the Canadian version of Saturday Night Live in the late ’70s and early ’80s), or movies like Home Alone, Uncle Buck, Spaceballs, or Planes, Trains and Automobiles. Even if you don’t, the documentary is worth a watch and will likely rank among the best you’ll see this year.
‘John Candy: I Like Me’ Is Heartfelt, Emotional, and Insightful
The new documentary, released in October 2025, features a laundry list of huge celebrities speaking of Candy’s character, struggling to find one negative thing to say about him. At the heart of this documentary is not only the story of an actor gone too soon, but also of a genuinely kind, humble, loving person who deserved all the success that came his way.
Above all else, you get the sense that Candy was, at his core, a good person who became part of the Hollywood machine, yet never lost sight of himself and his family. Knowing he made a quiet donation to kids in need while filming his last movie in Durango, Mexico, where he tragically died, is like a knife to the heart.
Everyone from Dan Aykroyd to Mel Brooks, Macaulay Culkin, Tom Hanks, Eugene Levy, Andrea Martin, Steve Martin, Bill Murray, Conan O’Brien, and Martin Short shares their stories of working with Candy. Most emotional, however, are the words and recollections of his widow, Rosemary, and his two now-grown children, Chris and Jennifer.
Learning about the adversity Candy overcame, his lack of confidence, and his drive to succeed makes you appreciate his career even more. Scenes from movies like Planes, Trains and Automobiles and Splash are a reminder that while Candy excelled at comedy, especially physical comedy, he was also a fantastic dramatic actor who perhaps was never given the chance to truly shine in those types of roles. When he did take one on, however, he nailed it, a perfect scene partner, as actors like Hanks recall.
What’s most impactful about the documentary is that it brings a sense of realness to an actor who many consider the goofy, large guy who did silly things for laughs on camera. He had hopes, dreams, and goals like the rest of us. He wanted to play professional football, but a knee injury squashed his dream. When Steven Spielberg called him to appear in the 1979 movie 1941, he couldn’t believe it. He became a frequent collaborator with and close friend of iconic filmmaker John Hughes. In fact, as Culkin points out, while many people link actors like Molly Ringwald to Hughes, Candy appeared in more of Hughes’ best movies than most others.
There are so many fun tidbits that are exciting to learn throughout the documentary as well. For example, Hanks recalls that the night before the racquetball scene in Splash, Candy had run into Jack Nicholson, and they spent the evening together drinking at a bar. He was likely filming on just a few hours of sleep, not to mention hungover. It worked for that particular scene, but knowing the backstory will make you view it in a different light. Just imagine the stories and hilarity that must have ensued when these two very different actors broke bread together!
More Eye-Opening Than His Struggles With Weight Are How People Treated Him
It’s no secret that Candy was a large man. At one point, he was gaining more weight. Knowing that his father died from heart issues, he was cognizant of the health risks and wanted to be there for his kids. Dishearteningly, his wife Rosemary discusses how he was exercising and trying to lose pounds at one point in his career, when he was basically told that Hollywood wanted him big. So, he stopped, or at least didn’t focus so much on it. Candy, it should be noted, was seemingly comfortable in his own skin. He was happy with himself, as per the title of the documentary. But that didn’t stop people from approaching him in inappropriate ways during interviews.
Looking back at clips of interviews with Candy, journalists often brought up the topic of his weight. The implication was that he needed to lose weight. Being a true Canadian, Candy always handled every question with grace, even when one journalist flat-out asked if he felt he might get better roles if he lost weight and became thinner and thus more conventionally attractive.
This raises serious questions about double standards in Hollywood. In today’s landscape, and arguably even back then, it would have been frowned upon for someone to ask such questions to a female actor. But no one batted an eye at the way people treated Candy’s weight as though it was something that defined him or the most important topic to discuss in relation to his career. Oddly, while Candy knew the risks of being overweight and saw his brother suffer a heart attack, he still partook in behaviors that put him further at risk.
Given the strong attention paid to topics of mental health today, it’s interesting to know that not only was Candy suffering from anxiety and panic attacks just before his death, but he was also open about sharing these struggles.
‘John Candy: I Like Me’ Is the Reminder of a Legacy
Candy tragically died in his sleep on March 4, 1994, from a heart attack. But by that time, he had amassed a resume of 71 movie and TV show appearances, mostly focused on comedy. Most fans of his generation, especially in Canada, may remember him from Second City TV (SCTV). Several clips from his time on that show give you a good idea of why he was so popular: he fully immersed himself in all types of characters on the series, each one funnier than the last.
Younger Gen-Xers might recall him from National Lampoon’s Vacation when he played a strict guard at Walleyworld, a character he said was inspired by one he played on SCTV. They might also remember him from Splash, Spaceballs, or Planes, Trains and Automobiles. But we’re reminded that even those of a new generation will be familiar with Candy from timeless classics like Home Alone, one of the best Christmas movies of all time, and Uncle Buck.
The reception to the documentary has been overwhelmingly positive, with critics awarding it an 89% Rotten Tomatoes score and audiences an almost perfect 97%. “Even if you know little about John Candy, by the time this film is over, you’ll miss him a lot,” writes NPR‘s David Bianculli. Elahe Izadi of The Washington Post adds that the well-known saying “never meet your heroes” doesn’t apply here. “Man, this was a hero worth meeting.” Robert Levin of Newsday adds, “a genuinely moving documentary about a true legend.”
Coleman Splide at Salon.com sums up Candy’s spirit, as captured through clips in the documentary and knowledge of his life. “Candy’s pursuit of goodness comes up repeatedly…to the point where a viewer can understand that, even amongst all of life’s pressures and its difficulties, it’s easy to live with integrity if you keep it by your side at all times.” Stream John Candy: I Like Me on Prime Video.
- Release Date
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October 10, 2025
- Runtime
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113 Minutes