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Now streaming: JOHN CANDY: I LIKE ME (2025)
Candy is dandy and so is this doc!
Leo gets a Barf makeover
JOHN CANDY: I LIKE ME (2025) Colin Hanks / Cinematographer: Justin Kane (1.85 : 1) / Composer: Tyler Strickland / Editors: Shane Reid & Darrin Roberts / Eulogists: Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Rose Candy, Chris Candy, Jennifer Candy-Sullivan, Eugene Levy, Andrea Martin, Catherine O'Hara, Dave Thomas, Martin Short, Robin Duke, Steve Martin, Conan O'Brien, Mel Brooks, Macaulay Culkin, the director's dad, and John Candy as the Beaver! / Distributor: Amazon Prime Video / Not Rated / Length: 113 mins.
Six things I didn't know about the late, lamented comedian before settling in with John Candy: I Like Me: 1) John Candy was born on Halloween. 2) He lost his father at five years old. 3) A high school football injury cost him a kneecap. 4) At the height of the Vietnam war, John wanted to enlist in the American army, but the Canadian government wouldn't allow it. 5) John was the co-owner of the CFL team the Toronto Argonauts. 6) According to Newsday film critic Mike McGrady, "[Candy’s] been in more turkeys than stuffing mix." (As proficient as I am with his filmography, I must confess to lying about not knowing the last one.)
One thing’s for certain: John Candy was a mensch. If you didn’t already know it going in, Colin Hanks’ affectionate documentary hammers the point home in the best way possible: through the words of those who knew and loved him, starting with his wife Rose and their two children, Jennifer and Chris. (The trio share executive producer credits.) Possessing that knowledge makes his portrayal of SCTV reprobates — Johnny LaRue, Yellowbelly, Harry (the guy with the snake on his face), William B. Williams — and all the other hilariously flawed characters he played even funnier.
SCTV is now, and forever will be, the epitome of small screen sketch comedy. A sharper, more satirically contemptuous weekly comedy series doesn’t exist. Those in the know spent their Saturday nights wading through the shallow waters of SNL, patiently anticipating the floodgates to open and the torrential downpour of laughter that was SCTV to follow immediately on most NBC affiliates. Only once has Rick Moranis come out of retirement: a cellular phone commercial for Ryan Reynolds’ Mint Mobile. Reynolds just so happens to be the producer of this documentary, but alas, no Moranis. He was the only living cast member not to appear. (We lost Joe Flaherty on April 1 of last year.) The rest of the team all show up to wax comedic over their lost comrade.
Hollywood called, and John was the first cast member to part ways with SCTV. He would return for one episode of Cinemax’s second-life SCTV Channel (never released on home video!) and Going Berserk, where he was joined by Eugene Levy and Joe Flaherty for what’s best described as a raunchy, R-rated variation on SCTV. Memorable bits as Dewey "Ox" Oxberger in Stripes, and a fleeting revival of Paul Fistinyourface in National Lampoon’s Vacation, were followed by Splash! It turned out to be his breakthrough role, introducing audiences to what was a basic variation on a familiar theme: watered-down LaRue in Disney clothing for people who never stayed up past 9 pm on Saturday nights.
Fame has its price, and the film doesn't shy away from the subject that had followed him in whispers and periodic blunt remarks made directly to his face. He hated doing the woman’s mud wrestling bit in Stripes. Even more insufferable was every “well-intentioned” entertainment drone with a microphone, more concerned about John’s weight than John was, who couldn't wait to remind him how much more handsome he’d be if he dropped a significant number of pounds. “I’m quite happy the way I am,” was John’s pat reply whenever an interviewer indelicately pressed him about his size. There are moments in the film where you can see John squirm under the weight of a hack indelicately breaching the subject.
Candy’s loyalty to his friends often found him mired in some of the worst big screen comedies the late 80’s, early 90’s had to offer. There came a point when the script wasn’t written that Candy turned down. Armed and Dangerous, The Great Outdoors, Hot to Trot, Nothing But Trouble... the list goes on. Nor do I much care for the John Hughes Factory turning Candy into a pudgy punchline, a schmaltzy mope stripped of his edge. But it brought him worldwide attention (and affection) and enough F.U. money to go thirdsies on a football team.
It’s been a little over three decades since John passed. For those unfamiliar with his work, start here, with pen and paper in hand to jot down titles, and work backwards. For those who know John only through his films, check out YouTube’s official SCTV page. Better yet, pick up all five seasons released by Shout! Factory and laugh yourself through the long, cold winter that lies ahead. ****
Here's something you might be interested in.
Now streaming: JOHN CANDY: I LIKE ME (2025)
Candy is dandy and so is this doc!
Now streaming: JOHN CANDY: I LIKE ME (2025)
Candy is dandy and so is this doc!
Leo gets a Barf makeover
JOHN CANDY: I LIKE ME (2025) Colin Hanks / Cinematographer: Justin Kane (1.85 : 1) / Composer: Tyler Strickland / Editors: Shane Reid & Darrin Roberts / Eulogists: Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Rose Candy, Chris Candy, Jennifer Candy-Sullivan, Eugene Levy, Andrea Martin, Catherine O'Hara, Dave Thomas, Martin Short, Robin Duke, Steve Martin, Conan O'Brien, Mel Brooks, Macaulay Culkin, the director's dad, and John Candy as the Beaver! / Distributor: Amazon Prime Video / Not Rated / Length: 113 mins.
Six things I didn't know about the late, lamented comedian before settling in with John Candy: I Like Me: 1) John Candy was born on Halloween. 2) He lost his father at five years old. 3) A high school football injury cost him a kneecap. 4) At the height of the Vietnam war, John wanted to enlist in the American army, but the Canadian government wouldn't allow it. 5) John was the co-owner of the CFL team the Toronto Argonauts. 6) According to Newsday film critic Mike McGrady, "[Candy’s] been in more turkeys than stuffing mix." (As proficient as I am with his filmography, I must confess to lying about not knowing the last one.)
One thing’s for certain: John Candy was a mensch. If you didn’t already know it going in, Colin Hanks’ affectionate documentary hammers the point home in the best way possible: through the words of those who knew and loved him, starting with his wife Rose and their two children, Jennifer and Chris. (The trio share executive producer credits.) Possessing that knowledge makes his portrayal of SCTV reprobates — Johnny LaRue, Yellowbelly, Harry (the guy with the snake on his face), William B. Williams — and all the other hilariously flawed characters he played even funnier.
SCTV is now, and forever will be, the epitome of small screen sketch comedy. A sharper, more satirically contemptuous weekly comedy series doesn’t exist. Those in the know spent their Saturday nights wading through the shallow waters of SNL, patiently anticipating the floodgates to open and the torrential downpour of laughter that was SCTV to follow immediately on most NBC affiliates. Only once has Rick Moranis come out of retirement: a cellular phone commercial for Ryan Reynolds’ Mint Mobile. Reynolds just so happens to be the producer of this documentary, but alas, no Moranis. He was the only living cast member not to appear. (We lost Joe Flaherty on April 1 of last year.) The rest of the team all show up to wax comedic over their lost comrade.
Hollywood called, and John was the first cast member to part ways with SCTV. He would return for one episode of Cinemax’s second-life SCTV Channel (never released on home video!) and Going Berserk, where he was joined by Eugene Levy and Joe Flaherty for what’s best described as a raunchy, R-rated variation on SCTV. Memorable bits as Dewey "Ox" Oxberger in Stripes, and a fleeting revival of Paul Fistinyourface in National Lampoon’s Vacation, were followed by Splash! It turned out to be his breakthrough role, introducing audiences to what was a basic variation on a familiar theme: watered-down LaRue in Disney clothing for people who never stayed up past 9 pm on Saturday nights.
Fame has its price, and the film doesn't shy away from the subject that had followed him in whispers and periodic blunt remarks made directly to his face. He hated doing the woman’s mud wrestling bit in Stripes. Even more insufferable was every “well-intentioned” entertainment drone with a microphone, more concerned about John’s weight than John was, who couldn't wait to remind him how much more handsome he’d be if he dropped a significant number of pounds. “I’m quite happy the way I am,” was John’s pat reply whenever an interviewer indelicately pressed him about his size. There are moments in the film where you can see John squirm under the weight of a hack indelicately breaching the subject.
Candy’s loyalty to his friends often found him mired in some of the worst big screen comedies the late 80’s, early 90’s had to offer. There came a point when the script wasn’t written that Candy turned down. Armed and Dangerous, The Great Outdoors, Hot to Trot, Nothing But Trouble... the list goes on. Nor do I much care for the John Hughes Factory turning Candy into a pudgy punchline, a schmaltzy mope stripped of his edge. But it brought him worldwide attention (and affection) and enough F.U. money to go thirdsies on a football team.
It’s been a little over three decades since John passed. For those unfamiliar with his work, start here, with pen and paper in hand to jot down titles, and work backwards. For those who know John only through his films, check out YouTube’s official SCTV page. Better yet, pick up all five seasons released by Shout! Factory and laugh yourself through the long, cold winter that lies ahead. ****
Now streaming on Amazon Prime.