John Candy: I Like Me

TIFF REVIEW: BY DARREN ZAKUS

September 15, 2025

4 OUT OF 5 STARS

John Candy: I Like Me is a moving documentary that captures the essence and spirit of the Canadian screen legend with a sincerity and heart that immediately recalls why his many performances have connected with audiences on an emotional level, allowing director Colin Hanks to deliver a winning documentary on all fronts.

While his life was far too short, one actor earned a spot in the heart of millions of fans worldwide: John Candy. Born in Newmarket, Ontario, Canada, Candy started off his acting career doing live improvisational comedy in Toronto and Canadian sketch television in Edmonton with other Canadian comedy legends such as Dan Aykroyd, Eugene Levy, and Catherine O’Hara, before making it big in Hollywood with hit films like Splash, Spaceballs and Planes, Trains and Automobiles. Though Candy sadly passed away far too soon in 1994, his legacy has lived on through his films which continue to entertain audiences around the world, and now his life is being remembered in the new documentary from filmmaker Colin Hanks who creates one crowd pleasing documentary.

The name of the documentary itself is derived from Candy’s memorable scene in Planes, Trains and Automobiles where his character Del Griffith tells Steve Martin’s Neal Page that he likes himself the way he is, and Colin Hanks’ documentary captures the man behind the camera. Through interviews with his friends and family, archival footage of Candy being interviewed or family home videos, clips from his films, and even unused outtakes featuring him improvising for his films, Candy’s presence is felt in every frame of this documentary. After teasing his far too soon passing, the documentary follows his life chronologically from his humble upbringings, the start of his acting career, to his big break in Hollywood, his most famous films alongside writer and director John Hughes, and what he was doing in the final years of his life.

There is never a shortage of laughter throughout the documentary as Candy’s unbelievable comedic talents are on display that is certain to have audiences once again erupting into riotous laughter regardless of whether they have seen that clip of Candy before or not. At the same time, Colin Hanks touches upon the struggles that Candy faced in his life with his own self confidence with the pressure from the industry to be the “big guy”, as well as the self imposed pressure of him being the rock for the entire family after the loss suffered by them that led to his anxiety attacks and health struggles that played a contributing factor in his early death. In doing so, Colin Hanks is able to showcase the man behind the screen to give a truly rounded exploration of Candy as an individual, giving viewers insight into this legend of the big screen that they may not have previously known.

The documentary itself is your standard talking head documentary style, not offering up anything unique or inventive in which Candy’s life is recounted, but is evident based on the subjects who were interviewed that not only was he an absolute joy to work with, but a true friend whose goodness knew no bounds. Colin Hanks and his team find a good balance of friends and relatives of Candy not in the film industry who paint a picture of a down to earth individual always looking out for his loved ones, right from a young age when his father passed when he was only four years old. His colleagues, featuring some of the biggest names in Hollywood’s comedy scene, sing nothing but praise for Candy, his talents, and the caring man they all worked with for years (despite Bill Murray jokingly wanted to slag him), as well as famous directors such as Mel Brooks and Chris Columbus who worked with Candy on some of his most memorable films. It even extends to the next generation of comedians that Candy helped inspire with Conan O’Brien talking about his brief interactions with Candy as he was starting off his comedy career and the effect Candy had on him.

But it is in the documentary’s final scenes where it enters its most emotional territory and will emotionally break audiences. As it begins to touch upon Candy’s final years alive, his passing and exploring his loss with the interview subjects, Colin Hanks find an emotional tone to the documentary that respects and pays tribute to Candy and the legacy he left behind for his family, friends and fans, intercut with footage of him with them over the years and more emotional clips from his films. Most notably, it is the use of “Every Time You Go Away” which famously played during the final moments of Planes, Trains and Automobiles as Del and Neal finally make it to Neal’s home for Thanksgiving, performed in this documentary by Cynthia Erivo that packs the biggest emotional punch. Intercut with that scene from Planes, Trains and Automobiles and footage of Candy, his funeral and an unforgettable moment from Catherine O’Hara, the song sets the stage for the documentary’s ending that will reduce all viewers to tears as Colin Hanks closes out his documentary in the most moving way imaginable.

Documentaries based on beloved celebrities who have passed can be tricky as the director has to find the right balance between truthful exploration of the subject and respectful tribute to their memory. But not only does Colin Hanks find this perfect balance while exploring the life of beloved Canadian comedian and actor John Candy, he does so with the utmost respect, reverence and love for John Candy that creates one of the most moving documentaries of the year. Told through interviews with his family, friends and colleagues and visually supported by clips from his numerous films, archival footage and home videos, John Candy: I Like Me is a joyful and emotionally stirring documentary that not only effortlessly captures the spirit of John Candy in every scene with an overwhelming heart and laughter, but becomes one of the most beautiful documentaries of the year that any fan of John Candy’s will instantly fall in love with.