John Candy: I Like Me

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Wikipedia

John Candy: I Like Me
Release poster
Directed byColin Hanks
Produced byColin Hanks
Johnny Pariseau
George Dewey
Shane Reid
Ryan Reynolds
Sean Stuart
Glen Zipper
StarringJohn Candy
CinematographyJustin Kane
Edited byShane Reid
Darrin Roberts
Music byTyler Strickland
Production
companies
Distributed byAmazon Prime Video
Release dates
  • September 4, 2025 (2025-09-04) (TIFF)
  • October 10, 2025 (2025-10-10) (United States)
Running time
113 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

John Candy: I Like Me is a 2025 American documentary film directed by Colin Hanks and is a portrait of the Canadian actor John Candy. The documentary premiered on September 4, 2025, as the opening night film of the Toronto International Film Festival.

Premise

John Candy began his career on the sketch comedy series Second City Television before becoming one of the most popular and beloved stars of comedy films until his death of a heart attack in 1994.[1] The film relies primarily on rare and never-before-seen archive footage, outtakes, private home video, audio commentary and interviews provided by friends and family.[2]

Appearances

Production

The film's production was first announced in 2022 by producer Ryan Reynolds.[3] The film's acquisition for Amazon Prime Video was announced in February 2023.[4] For the film, Cynthia Erivo recorded a cover of the song "Everytime You Go Away" (that ended the film Planes, Trains and Automobiles), which was released as a single on October 3, 2025.[5]

Music

Composer Tyler Strickland was in charge of the film's musical score and a soundtrack was released on October 17, 2025 by Lakeshore Records.[6] Studio cut excerpts used the following tracks:

  • "A Life Well Lived"
  • "He Was a Kid"
  • " A Quiet Life"
  • " Escape Into Character"
  • "Second City"
  • "Argonauts"
  • "The Fun Time Could End"
  • "The Real Article"
  • "Meeting Rose"
  • "Finding John"
  • "Interested in Film"
  • "You Don't Know"
  • "From the Archives"
  • "John Becomes a Star"
  • "Happy the Way I Am"
  • "My Brother Jim"
  • "All Too Much"
  • "Durango"
  • "A Gift to the World"

Release

Reynolds at the premiere in Toronto

The world premiere of John Candy: I Like Me took place at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 4, 2025, at the Roy Thomson Hall, including a live Q&A session with the film's director, producer and Candy's children Jennifer and Christopher Candy after the screening.[7] Canadian prime minister Mark Carney attended the premiere, spoke to the audience, and paid tribute to Candy.[8] Earlier the same day, an official trailer was released by Amazon Prime Video.[9]

Audience viewership

According to Amazon, John Candy: I Like Me debuted at No. 1 on Prime video digital release in the United States and ranked 3rd for the week ending October 17, 2025.[10][11]

Reception

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 89% of 62 critics' reviews are positive. The website's consensus reads: "Focusing on the good times as it chronicles John Candy's life and career, I Like Me gathers those who knew and loved the iconic actor for a bittersweet retrospective that feels like a cathartic group hug."[12] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 69 out of 100, based on 14 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.[13]

Michael Rechtshaffen of The Hollywood Reporter rated the film positively, calling it a "big-hearted documentary that's as embracing and generous of spirit as the man himself."[14] Tim Grierson of Screen International gave a mixed review, calling the film "an appealing, ultimately melancholy tribute to the late Canadian comic," adding, "I Like Me contains interviews with such comedy luminaries as Tom Hanks, Steve Martin, Bill Murray and Catherine O'Hara, who speak with endless affection about the late star of hits like Splash and Planes, Trains & Automobiles." He concludes, "Although a somewhat conventional portrait, the film works best as a lament for a talented actor who struggled to reach his full potential before passing away far too young."[15] Jason Bailey of RogerEbert.com was more critical, giving 2.5 out of 4 stars, describing some of the structuring choices as "downright baffling" and continuing, "little to no interest is paid to Candy's considerable growth as an actor over the course of his career—particularly in the last few years of his life." However, he praises the archive material, writing, "We're treated to copious home videos, rare outtakes from his movies and footage from his stage performances, family photos, the works."[16]

Awards

Award Year Category Work Result Ref.
Cinéfest Sudbury International Film Festival 2025 Audience Choice, Documentary Colin Hanks Won [17]

References

  1. ↑ Christina Izzo, "Colin Hanks Talks Knowing John Candy Growing Up Ahead Of His Documentary With Ryan Reynolds: 'Sweet, Sweet Presence'". CinemaBlend, February 1, 2024.
  2. ↑ Pond, Steve (September 4, 2025). "'John Candy: I Like Me' Review: Colin Hanks' Affectionate Documentary Opens Toronto Film Festival". The Wrap. Retrieved September 5, 2025.
  3. ↑ "Ryan Reynolds making John Candy documentary with Colin Hanks and says to 'expect tears'". Virgin Radio UK, October 11, 2022.
  4. ↑ Sandy Schaefer, "Amazon Prime Video Picks Up John Candy Documentary From Ryan Reynolds And Colin Hanks". /Film, February 16, 2023.
  5. ↑ https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Listen-Cynthia-Erivo-Performs-Everytime-You-Go-Away-Cover-From-John-Candy-Documentary-20251003
  6. ↑ "'John Candy: I Like Me' Soundtrack Album Released". October 17, 2025. Retrieved October 18, 2025.
  7. ↑ "Ryan Reynolds Kicks Off TIFF 50th With Docu 'John Candy: I Like Me': "The Greatest, Most Beautiful Man That I Never Met"". Deadline. September 4, 2025. Retrieved September 5, 2025.
  8. ↑ "Prime Minister Mark Carney takes stage at TIFF's opening night, honours John Candy". CTV News. September 4, 2025. Archived from the original on September 5, 2025. Retrieved September 6, 2025.
  9. ↑ "Trailer: Amazon's "John Candy: I Like Me" Doco". Darkhorizons. September 4, 2025. Retrieved September 5, 2025.
  10. ↑ "John Candy: I Like Me Debuts At No. 1 On Prime Video Amid Oscar Buzz". Screenrant. October 11, 2025. Retrieved October 18, 2025.
  11. ↑ "John Candy: I Like Me on Amazon Prime TOP 10 this week". flixpatrol. Retrieved October 18, 2025.
  12. ↑ "John Candy: I Like Me". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved October 18, 2025.
  13. ↑ "John Candy: I Like Me". Metacritic. Retrieved October 18, 2025.
  14. ↑ Rechtshaffen, Michael (September 4, 2025). "'John Candy: I Like Me' Review: Colin Hanks' Doc Portrait Pays Poignant Tribute to a Comic Icon's Life and Legacy". Retrieved September 8, 2025.
  15. ↑ "John Candy: I Like Me' review: Colin Hanks doc pays warm tribute to Canadian comedy legend". Screen International. Media Business Insight. September 5, 2025. Retrieved September 5, 2025.
  16. ↑ Bailey, Jason (September 7, 2025). "John Candy: I Like Me". RogerEbert.com. Retrieved September 8, 2025.
  17. ↑ "‘Out Standing’ and John Candy doc take audience awards at Cinéfest". Sudbury.com, September 28, 2025.