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.
My introduction to Nate Dogg goes back to Dr. Dre’s 1992 debut, The Chronic, and the song “Deeez Nuuuts.” Even then, something about Nate’s voice set him apart from everybody else. He wasn’t just singing on rap records. He was bringing soul, gospel, street knowledge, and West Coast cool into the same space. He set the standard for hook singers in hip-hop, and dare I say, he’s still vastly underrated.
For this week’s Slow Jam Saturday, I wanted to give Stevie Wonder his due as he prepares to celebrate the 50th anniversary of his masterpiece, “Songs in the Key of Life,” on tour. While the easy choice could have been “Knocks Me Off My Feet”—a classic that still resonates fifty years later—I chose “From the Bottom of My Heart,” the second single from his twenty-third studio album, “A Time to Love,” released in 2005.
It’s hard to believe that an iconic singing competition like American Idol has produced only two Black male winners in its more than two-and-a-half-decade history. Jamal Roberts made history last year when he won the show, following Ruben Studdard’s well-deserved victory in Season Two.