The late John Sweet stays one of the crucial beloved comedians ever to grace the stage or the large display. With that, it’s no shock {that a} documentary now celebrates his life and profession. John Sweet: I Like Me is directed by Colin Hanks and co-produced by Ryan Reynolds, and the Deadpool actor has ideas on which of the Uncle Buck star’s performances would snag an Oscar nomination at present. I personally 100% agree with the selection, as a result of it’s one in every of Sweet’s finest motion pictures and my private favourite of all time.
At a Toronto Worldwide Movie Competition press convention for John Sweet: I Like Me, forward of its 2025 film schedule premiere, Reynolds made his decide. As captured in a video supplied to CinemaBlend, Reynolds selected a sure 1987 two-hander co-starring Sweet and Steve Martin:
John had a method about him that actually introduced folks collectively and nonetheless does to today. I take a look at Planes, Trains and Cars and that efficiency of Del Griffith. I imagine that that may be nominated for an Academy Award if that had been to come back out on this second at present, on this age.
Actually, I couldn’t have stated it higher myself. In the event you’ve revisited Planes, Trains and Cars currently, you already know exactly why Reynolds planted the flag on Del Griffith.
Sweet does the unattainable of threading the needle between broad vacation film chaos and delicate heartbreak. Within the course of, the actor turns a street journey movie about all the things going hilariously improper right into a weak character piece with a completely dimensional human being at its middle. It’s the form of heat, weak, quietly devastating work that performs even greater now, in an period the place voters have been more and more open to performances that straddle comedy and drama.
(Additionally, present me one other monologue that breaks you the way in which “I like me” does.) I choke up simply pondering of it.
A part of the attraction of Planes, Trains, and Cars comes from John Hughes’ hilarious writing, and a top-notch film set within the Midwest. Nonetheless, I’m unsure every other actor might presumably carry as a lot pathos to the half just like the Canadian-born humorous man did.
Reynolds’ feedback got here as John Sweet: I Like Me opened TIFF, with director Colin Hanks, who guarantees the flick will hit you within the feels. Hanks’ doc assembles a portrait of the beloved Canadian that blends profession highs with candid reflections from family and friends. The doc options voices like Steve Martin, Tom Hanks, Invoice Murray and Catherine O’Hara, and it digs into the delight and vulnerability that made Sweet so singular. It’s a big-hearted tribute—and debuting it in Canada appears like the one transfer.
Ryan Reynolds, for his half, has been a hands-on steward of Sweet’s legacy all through the rollout. He’s spoken about recognizing the anxiousness behind Sweet’s people-pleasing instincts and even revealed to Those that he notices his personal habits and struggles within the late star. He informed the outlet:
So psychological well being, the one method to form of push again at it’s to speak about it — is to kind of take the stage or take the area and personal it and maintain it and go, ‘Hey, I am having a tricky time and I need assistance’… And that is robust for a people-pleaser to do. It is actually, actually exhausting, truly. So I really feel for that man struggling by that for thus lengthy at a interval the place it was simply beginning to be acceptable to speak about it somewhat bit extra.
The Buried actor didn’t cease at Oscar chatter but additionally linked Sweet’s magic to the vulnerability beneath Del Griffith, and to the person himself. That empathy arrange a bigger level about how exhausting it was, particularly then, to talk brazenly about psychological well being.
Would Del Griffith truly land a nomination at present? Ryan Reynolds certainly makes a robust case for my part. Whether or not you fit it as lead or supporting, Sweet’s work in Planes, Trains and Cars has the hallmarks of a contemporary contender. It is the uncommon comedy efficiency that makes you giggle more durable the extra you perceive the character, and makes you perceive him extra every time you giggle. If that’s not Oscar DNA, I don’t know what’s.
John Sweet: I Like Me has had its premiere at TIFF and is ready to stream for anybody with a Prime Video subscription starting on October 10. Additionally, remember to hire or purchase Planes, Trains and Cars, because it stays a superb movie.