Much-loved Canadian comic John Candy is finally receiving the documentary homage that fans have awaited for so long.
The movie, John Candy: I Like Me, is from producer Ryan Reynolds and director Colin Hanks, and will kick off the Toronto International Film Festival on September 4 before dropping worldwide on Prime Video on October 10.
The trailer for the newly released film emphasizes the emotional scope of the project, starting with warm words from Candy’s Stripes (1981) co-star Bill Murray, visibly choked as he speaks about his deceased friend. “I don’t know I can tell you what was right about John Candy, or what was wrong. But he was my friend,” Murray says, on the verge of tears. “And … I don’t wanna cry, but when you see him, when you see his face …”
The trailer also includes cameos by some of Candy’s close collaborators and friends, such as Steve Martin, Catherine O’Hara, Dan Aykroyd, Tom Hanks, Martin Short, and Mel Brooks.
Based on a synopsis, the documentary features never-before-seen home movies, exclusive family access, and unguarded memories from co-workers to give a better overview of Candy’s personal life and career. It traces both his comedic genius in blockbusters such as Planes, Trains and Automobiles (1987), Spaceballs (1987), and Uncle Buck (1989), and his own personal demons behind the limelight.
Actors Reynolds, 48, and Hanks, 47, had a joint statement: “When you say the name John Candy, your face breaks out into a smile. He was not only a great actor; he was an even greater person.”. Folks adored his down-to-earth personality, but they did not realize just how much so John was. They further stated that the movie attempts to reveal the human being behind the humor, from his beginnings in Toronto through his emergence as one of the stars of Hollywood’s brightest of the ’70s, ’80s, and ’90s.
Candy’s widow, Rosemary Margaret Hobor, and his children Christopher Candy and Jennifer Candy-Sullivan are also co-producers, which guarantees the film is approved by his family.
Reynolds initially revealed the project in 2022 on his production company Maximum Effort, assuring fans they should “expect tears.” He has all along talked about how much he admired Candy, and even created a heartfelt tribute montage on the 25th anniversary of his passing in 2019.
With John Candy: I Like Me, fans will have a personal and heartwarming tribute to a comedian whose jokes and jokes are still resonating today, three decades after his death.
Jamie Wells has a knack for getting the inside scoop on Hollywood’s biggest stars and up-and-coming talent. With a sharp eye for industry trends and an ear for viral moments, Jamie covers everything from red-carpet events to behind-the-scenes drama in movies, TV, and celebrity culture.
