John Candy: I Like Me is the definitive documentary of the comedic actor and ought to provide closure for the countless numbers of John Candy fans.

When news broke that Ryan Reynolds was producing a documentary about longtime SCTV star and John Hughes collaborator John Candy, it instantly had my attention. After all, Reynolds is one of Canada’s most beloved actors and filmmakers working today. The finished film more than delivers on that promise. Teaming up with a host of other producers—including Glen Zipper and the Zipper Bros. team—and director Colin Hanks, John Candy: I Like Me offers a heartfelt look at a beloved performer who left us way too soon.

John Candy: I Like Me charts Candy’s rise from his early days on SCTV in Canada to becoming a household name through blockbuster comedies like Stripes, Splash; Spaceballs; and Planes, Trains, and Automobiles. Alongside career highlights, the film offers rare glimpses behind the curtain, weaving in never-before-seen home movies and candid reflections from those closest to him. Friends, colleagues, and family all contribute, painting a vivid portrait of a man whose warmth and humor resonated far beyond the screen.

What emerges in John Candy: I Like Me is more than a biography—it’s an intimate tribute to Candy as both a performer and a person. Interviews with his children, Chris Candy and Jennifer Candy-Sullivan, give audiences a sense of what it was like to grow up with John Candy as a father. Alongside their mother, Rosemary, they share insights into his family life that I had never encountered before. Add in cousins and childhood friends, and the documentary reveals him not only as a gifted comedian, but also as a devoted husband, father, and friend.

John Candy: I Like Me balances his joy-filled public persona with the challenges he faced privately, from industry pressures to personal struggles. In doing so, it captures both the laughter he inspired and the humanity behind it, offering audiences a poignant reminder of why John Candy remains an enduring presence in film and comedy.

John Candy: I Like Me doesn’t shy away from the subject of Candy’s weight, and many interviews underline how much of a fixation it became in Hollywood. Even as a working entertainment journalist today, I couldn’t help but wonder: what were they thinking? If someone in the industry spoke that way now, they’d face immediate backlash, if not outright dismissal. Candy worked with trainers and shed pounds, yet the pressure to maintain his larger frame was relentless. It’s not unfair to suggest this contributed to his passing at just 43. Still, tragedy was part of his story from the beginning—his father died at 35, on Candy’s fifth birthday. The weight of that loss must have been immense.

Candy initially found his footing in high school football before a knee injury ended those ambitions, blocking the Canadian native from enlisting in the U.S. Army as well. Comedy became his defense mechanism, and the world is all the better for it. The documentary underscores this turn of fate, and it’s hard not to feel grateful to the Candy family for sharing him with us, even if his time was far too short.

A considerable portion of John Candy: I Like Me traces his roots through Godspell, The Second City, and SCTV. These sequences are rich with highlights, and one can only imagine what didn’t make the final cut. Hearing from his fellow castmates and co-stars is especially rewarding, as they recall his generosity and timing.

“He was one of the top performers of all of them,” Steve Martin said of Candy, after naming Second City, Saturday Night Live, and Monty Python.

“He would be remembered very simply for his good nature,” Mel Brooks said. Brooks also added Candy “was a total actor because he was a total person.”

Candy’s presence will be missed when Spaceballs 2 is released.

The film also resonates in today’s context, as conversations about mental health become less stigmatized. If there’s a takeaway from John Candy: I Like Me, it’s that no one should feel afraid to speak openly about their struggles. There were comments that came up about this during the press conference and they certainly resonated with me, having been in a very dark place back in 2017. For a people-pleaser like Candy, Hollywood could be a brutal business. Even as he bought into a CFL team and crisscrossed the country for appearances, he carried burdens that the spotlight often concealed.

Funny, poignant, and deeply human, John Candy: I Like Me isn’t just a biography—it’s a love letter to a comedic legend. From rare footage to candid interviews, the film captures every facet of Candy’s life, making it one of the best documentaries this year and an essential watch for anyone who ever laughed with him. For complementary reading, a second edition of Searching For Candy: John Candy: A Biography by Tracey J. Morgan was published in 2024 and a new book from Paul Myers, John Candy: A Life in Comedy, is due out on October 7, 2025.

DIRECTOR: Colin Hanks
FEATURING: John Candy, Chris Candy, Jennifer Candy-Sullivan, Rosemary Candy, Mel Brooks, Tom Hanks, Steve Martin, Dan Aykroyd, Bill Murray, Eugene Levy, Catherine O’Hara, Martin Short, Dave Thomas, Andrea Martin, Robin Duke, Andrew Alexander, Chris Columbus, Macaulay Culkin

John Candy: I Like Me holds its world premiere during the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival as the Opening Night Film in the Gala Presentations program. The film debuts globally on Prime Video on October 10, 2025. Grade: 5/5

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