I Like Me: Film Gang Review

John Candy: I Like Me is now streaming on Amazon Prime. This documentary takes us on a trip down memory lane, giving us the chance to enjoy clips from some of Candy’s classics: Splash, Uncle Buck, Stripes, Spaceballs, Planes, Trains and Automobiles, Home Alone, National Lampoon’s Vacation and Second City TV. Directed by Colin Hanks and produced by Ryan Reynolds, the film includes intimate memories from iconic comedy writers, performers, directors, and family members. And, of course, there’s the sweet vulnerability of Candy himself, captured through interviews and home videos. The melancholy tone of the piece is an interesting juxtaposition to someone who gave us so many belly laughs, although it’s not an uncommon theme in the world of comedic geniuses. While Candy was close to his wife and children, he never fully recovered from losing his father to a heart attack when he was just five years old. Candy had an incredible work ethic, along with natural talent. He grew up outside Toronto and came of age alongside the other Second City players. Think Eugene Levy, Martin Short, Dave Thomas, Harold Ramis, Rick Moranis, and Catherine O’Hara. Under the creative direction of producer Andrew Alexander, Candy earned his “stripes”—no pun intended. It was through this training that he learned improvisation, timing, creative storytelling, and character development. Candy’s hard work paid off, and he was soon discovered by the likes of Steven Spielberg, Ivan Reitman, and John Hughes. He developed a close friendship with Hughes and starred in nine of his films, most notably Uncle Buck, which Hughes wrote specifically for him. Candy’s Canadian roots were apparent in his “niceness” and his love of sports, especially football. He was even co-owner of the Canadian Football League’s Toronto Argonauts—a nod to his own shortened football career. Candy was easily the butt of jokes because of his “large frame” and did his best not to show his hurt. But past interviews captured the heartbreak on Candy’s face when he was asked about his weight. Candy was independent and didn’t think of himself as a “type,” but rather as a creative person with a strong point of view about the characters he played. I believe that if he had lived beyond 1994, we would have experienced more dramatic roles from him. While Planes, Trains and Automobiles was a comedy, Candy’s performance was bittersweet and evoked the emotions of loneliness that we may all feel at one point or another in our lives. I always enjoy films about real people whose lives take twists and turns and somehow come out the other end. Albeit all too early for John Candy, his talent, kindness, and legendary career will live on in the films he gave us. For KSQD’s Film Gang: Susan Lovegren.