Full disclosure: I am a big fan of John Candy and growing up I would watch his skits on SCTV and movies he was in, even if it were a small portion. And yes, I was too young for Planes, Trains, and Automobiles, especially with the vulgar Steve Martin rant.
John Candy is perhaps one of the most recognizable Canadian icons in film and television. If you were born in the 1990s you would have been too young to know who John was and grew up in the 2000s watching movies such as Home Alone, Uncle Buck, Spaceballs, and more classic 80s films. Unfortunately, John Candy was taken too soon in 1994 but left behind a legacy that I Like Me captures.
John Candy: I Like Me captures the story of Candy’s life and the legacy he left behind years after his passing. Directed by Colin Hanks and produced by Vancouver’s very own Ryan Reynolds, John Candy: I Like Me celebrates the life of Candy as told from his friends, family, and archived footage of John Candy himself.
The documentary acts more of a celebration of who John Candy was as a person both on screen and off as opposed to the usual documentary style, not that there’s anything wrong with that. With interviews ranging from Eugene Levy, Catherine O’Hara, and archived audio of the late director John Hughes, who he and Candy had a close relationship with, there is a lot of well deserved praise that Candy was given.
Colin Hanks also dives into the personal struggles John Candy faced, such as Hollywood’s view on his weight and his mental health struggles. There is a lot that Candy went through and how much he was pushed to live up to an expectation that Hollywood expects. There is also a personal connection that Candy channels into each of his characters that Hanks showcases that not only the audience can relate to, but also Candy being able to relate to each of the characters he is portraying.
There is a struggle in what the documentary wants to tell with John Candy. I Like Me flips back and forth with celebrating Candy’s life and legacy as well as his own personal struggles. While it is told in chronological order of his life, I Like Me does struggle focusing on too many things at once. The focus on what it wants to tell flipping back and forth does feel a little messy, especially given the runtime of close to two hours that could have been spread out more easily to give each section more time to breathe. John Candy: I Like Me is heartfelt and heartbreaking. You’ll laugh and cry and wish John was still around. It is long overdue that John Candy gets a documentary that he deserves and makes you want to rewatch a classic movie of his.
Watch the trailer right here.
All images via Amazon MGM Studios.
Directed by Colin Hanks
Produced by Colin Hanks, Johnny Pariseau, George Dewey, Shane Reid, Ryan Reynolds, Sean Stuart, Glen Zipper
Featuring John Candy
Premiere Date: September 4, 2025 (Toronto)
Running Time: 113 minutes
Cinema from the Spectrum 
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