As I watched the documentary film John Candy: I Like Me, I was extremely moved. This is an incredible film. This is a must-watch as it’s a strong, emotional documentary about a man who left us far too soon.
The film starts by going through John’s younger years, with childhood and upbringing, and interviews some of his childhood friends. It then moves on to his time on SCTV in Canada, which we are told was his “training wheels”. This is where he could really develop and craft what he wanted to do, not just as a comedian but as a true actor.
The Actor Behind the Comic
I grew up with Uncle Buck where he was one of the biggest stars but always saw him as a kind of a “shticky” comedian. It wasn’t until Planes, Trains and Automobiles, where I was like “Wait a minute, this guy is a real actor.” I was floored. I had never seen a man that I sometimes considered this goofy, kind of buffoon-looking guy play this kind of nuanced character. It’s one of those films you can watch over and over, and I still do today.
The film also goes into something I had no idea about, which was his unbelievably close and special relationship with director John Hughes. They were such good friends that their families would even vacation together. Hughes would give him scripts to look at, make notes and changes or suggestions, and then send them back. Talk about a professional and friendship trust. People talking about this story is jaw-dropping.
The Sincerity from His Co-Stars
The documentary interviews seemingly everybody John Candy ever came into contact with outside of his family (yes, they talk to his wife and children). I don’t just mean people he co-starred with, this man made a real impact on people around him. We hear from Bill Murray, Steve Martin, Martin Short, Catherine O’Hara, Eugene Levy, Macaulay Culkin, etc. and on and on. The sincerity with which these people speak about him is so genuine, you can just feel it. It’s not fake. I found myself honestly going, “God, I need a John Candy in my life”.
The film, however, does not hide the personal and professional adversities he went through, such as his ongoing battle with his weight and general health. He was a heavy smoker and drinker, and he always struggled with his weight. There is a bit where they talk about him actually losing weight at one point, only to have studio execs or someone say to him “Don’t lose any more weight, that’s why people love you.” I can only imagine how incredibly difficult that is to hear when you’re actually on screen.
The film ends by talking about his last days which were spent filming a movie for the first time as a director and where he sadly passed away in a hotel room. They show footage from his memorial, which is heartbreaking.
Overall
Overall, this is a feel-good but sad film about a man who was gone way too soon. Don’t get me wrong, I’m sure they probably skimmed over a few things, but I didn’t care. This is still a 5 out of 5 documentary film. This is a must-watch if you are a cinephile and one who loves to watch the journey of actors and get to know them as an artist.
They take you through this journey in such a masterful way. Go watch John Candy: I Like Me, you can find it on Amazon Prime.
