Amazon Prime Video released “John Candy: I Like Me” on Oct. 10, directed by Colin Hanks and produced by Ryan Reynolds.
John Candy is not as well-known now as he was back in the ’80s and ’90s. I really did not know much about Candy myself, but I knew he was a famous comedian and movie star who was tragically taken from us too soon.
The documentary takes never-before-seen home videos with new interviews from Bill Murray, Steve Martin, Tom Hanks, Catherine O’Hara, Eugene Levy, Dan Aykroyd, Dave Thomas, Macaulay Culkin and more, with participation from the children of Candy, Chris and Jennifer, with wife Rose, who all serve as co-executive producers.
This is not just a film about a comedian — it is a portrait of a man who gave everything to make others happy, even when he struggled to find that happiness for himself.
The title comes from a defining moment in “Planes, Trains and Automobiles.” After Steve Martin’s character, Neal Page unleashes a cruel rant, Candy’s character, Del Griffith, responds with: “I like me.” That line becomes the heartbeat of the documentary. It reminds viewers that Candy’s humor came from a place of empathy, not ego. It is a statement of self-worth from someone who often doubted his own.
“He carried the weight of his father passing almost every day. Those things were in his mind, in his heart, and he carried them,” says Dave Thomas, who was an actor and a close friend of Candy, in one of the most emotional interviews.
That fear of running out of time drove Candy to work relentlessly, but it also fueled anxiety that never fully left him. Hearing that made me see his performances differently. Behind every laugh was a man racing against something he could not control.
Candy’s father’s death is mentioned frequently throughout the film because it shaped Candy as a person.
Having your father die on your fifth birthday, and your family never talking about it, is something that no person should ever experience, and Candy dealt with it every day. His son Chris said it best: “If he was five when his father died, and then you grow up with a group of people who do not for a second want to even acknowledge it? Well, yeah, no shit, I’d have anxiety, too.”
What struck me most was how much love surrounds this story. Candy’s children, Chris and Jennifer, share memories that feel very different when you understand that they have lived a majority of their lives without their father.
Candy gave so much of himself to the world that he sometimes forgot to save enough for home.
His children cherish every moment with him, and he truly was an amazing father who tried to be involved. After all, he was trying to be the father that his father never had a chance to be.
The film does not shy away from the darker side of fame. Archival clips show interviewers who fixated on Candy’s size, turning his body into a punchline.
It was also revealed that Candy continued to be overweight because that’s what people wanted him to be. That constant scrutiny pushed Candy toward unhealthy habits.
That really pissed me off. He deserved better and yet even in those moments, his resilience is why he remains so beloved.
Candy died in 1994 at 43 while filming “Wagons East.” The documentary handles that moment with honesty but not despair. It honors his legacy without letting grief overshadow the joy he brought.
As someone who grew up loving Candy’s movies, this documentary felt personal. It reminded me why his work mattered then and why it matters now. He was not perfect, and the film does not pretend he was. But it shows a man who cared deeply, who made people feel seen, and who believed — at least sometimes — that liking yourself is enough. That message feels more important than ever.
This documentary does John Candy justice. If you don’t know him, I couldn’t give a bigger recommendation to watch this film — this documentary will introduce you to the heart behind the humor.
After two hours, you will cry happy tears, knowing that you have experienced the warmth, joy and happiness that Candy provided so many people throughout his life.
“I Like Me” does not just tell John Candy’s story; it lets him tell it one more time in his own way. It comes from countless home videos where John looks into the camera and beams at the people he loves.
This heartfelt tribute to Candy is a powerful and emotional farewell to a truly irreplaceable talent. This film lets Candy say, one more time and without apology, “I like me.”
This is a beautiful tribute to a legend whose legacy of love, laughter and kindness continues to inspire us all.
