Colin Hanks travels to “The Great White North” to pay tribute to one of their comedic legends in his third directorial effort, “John Candy: I Like Me,” which will be available on Prime Video. Canadian actor Ryan Reynolds joins Candy’s widow and children as producers of the documentary.
When Mr. Candy passed away, I was twelve years old, and I remember reading an article about his upcoming film, “Wagons East,” in a copy of Entertainment Weekly. On my way to school that day, I told my classmates that John Candy had died, but no one believed me until a teacher confirmed it. That said, since I’ve become an adult and actually learning the genesis of comedy, losing Mr. Candy is still a loss felt thirty-one years later.
Hanks begins the documentary with footage from Candy’s funeral, and instantly, tears start to form. We then follow a traditional narrative route, exploring Candy’s early life and his rise to stardom as a member of SCTV. The documentary features engaging stories from former coworkers, including Martin Short, Catherine O’Hara, and Eugene Levy.
As it transitions into Candy’s Hollywood work, we hear stories from Tom Hanks, Steve Martin, and Macaulay Culkin. Martin shares a memorable anecdote about Candy’s dramatic monologue from “Planes, Trains & Automobiles,” while Culkin highlights Candy’s fierce protective nature during their time working together. As the documentary races toward its conclusion, which covers Candy’s ultimate passing, we learn some intriguing tidbits that were refreshing and enlightening.
For the most part, I was thoroughly engaged throughout the runtime. Hanks keeps the documentary straightforward, lasting a tight ninety-five minutes. However, I would have appreciated a deeper dive into some of Candy’s unrealized projects and his influence on Chris Farley. Nevertheless, “John Candy: I Like Me” effortlessly pays tribute to a talent gone too soon.
Final Grade: B+
“John Candy: I Like Me” is available to stream on Friday, October 10th, on Prime Video.
I’ve always been a fan of Eric Bellinger. My admiration stems not only from the records he has released under his own name but also from the impressive career he built behind the scenes. Long before casual R&B listeners recognized his face, they were already familiar with his songwriting through tracks he penned for artists like Chris Brown, Usher, Justin Bieber, and Wale.
As many of you know, I had the opportunity to visit Paisley Park earlier this week while vacationing in Minnesota. During the tour, our guide shared that an expanded edition of Prince’s album “Parade” is expected to be released to celebrate its 40th anniversary. After spending the day exploring the Twin Cities, it felt like the perfect excuse to revisit one of the most fascinating and underrated albums in Prince’s legendary catalog.
One of the reasons I’ve always considered Prince to have the edge over Michael Jackson is his remarkable collection of ballads and