A new trailer for the documentary John Candy: I Like Me has dropped, offering a heartfelt look at the life and legacy of the beloved Canadian comedian. Directed by Colin Hanks and produced by Ryan Reynolds, the film promises an intimate portrait of John Candy, blending never-before-seen home videos, family insights, and interviews with Hollywood stars. The trailer debuted on September 4, 2025, just ahead of the documentary’s world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF).
Trailer Highlights: Emotion and Nostalgia
The official trailer opens with clips of Candy’s iconic roles, from his polka-loving character in Home Alone to his heartfelt performance as Del Griffith in Planes, Trains and Automobiles. Voiceovers from collaborators emphasize Candy’s humor and vulnerability, with one noting, “He was amazingly funny.” Emotional moments shine through, including Bill Murray tearing up while reflecting, “I can’t tell you what was right about John Candy, or what was wrong. But he was my friend.” The trailer features a new recording by Cynthia Erivo and underscores Candy’s personal struggles, including Hollywood pressures and his untimely death at age 43 from a heart attack in 1994.
Interviews in the trailer include Dan Aykroyd, Catherine O’Hara, Steve Martin, Tom Hanks, Martin Short, Mel Brooks, and others, who recall Candy as a gentle giant driven to bring joy to audiences. The tone mixes celebration with poignancy, highlighting Candy’s roles as a son, husband, father, and friend, while addressing the “unhealthy aspects of the business for people pleasers.”
Inside the Documentary: A Comprehensive Portrait
John Candy: I Like Me delves into Candy’s journey from his Toronto upbringing to becoming a comedy staple in the late 1970s through the early 1990s. It covers his breakout on SCTV and key films like Stripes (1981), National Lampoon’s Vacation (1983), Splash (1983), Volunteers (1985), Spaceballs (1987), Planes, Trains and Automobiles (1987), and Uncle Buck (1989). The title nods to a line from Planes, Trains and Automobiles, symbolizing Candy’s self-acceptance.
The film explores personal challenges, such as the impact of his father’s early death from a heart attack, which eerily foreshadowed his own fate. Co-produced by Candy’s wife, Rosemary Margaret Hobor, and children, Christopher Candy and Jennifer Candy-Sullivan, it includes intimate family access and candid recollections. Director Colin Hanks, whose father Tom Hanks collaborated with Candy, and producer Ryan Reynolds have shared, “He wasn’t just a great actor; he was an even better person. People loved his everyman qualities, but they didn’t know how relatable John really was.”
Additional producers include Sean Stuart, Glen Zipper, George Dewey, Johnny Pariseau, and Shane Reid. The 1 hour 53-minute documentary is an Amazon MGM Studios and 20th Century Studios production.
Release Details and Festival Buzz
The documentary opened TIFF’s 50th anniversary on September 4, 2025, as a gala presentation. It will stream exclusively on Prime Video starting October 10, 2025. Early reviews describe it as an affectionate homage, though some note its positive focus may lack critical depth on Candy’s career choices.
Reynolds, a longtime fan, previously honored Candy with a tribute montage in 2019 for the 25th anniversary of his death. The project, announced in 2022, draws from Candy’s archives to celebrate his enduring impact on comedy.
