John Candy: I Like Me (2025)

[BluBonnet]

New documentary is getting theatrical distribution

Ryan Reynolds and Colin Hanks’ ‘John Candy: I Like Me’ Doc to Open Toronto Film Festival

The Ryan Reynolds-produced documentary John Candy: I Like Me from director Colin Hanks is set to open the Toronto Film Festival on Sept. 4, organizers announced Wednesday.

Reynolds, having come out of Canada like the late John Candy, has apparently been a lifelong fan of the Canadian funnyman and actor. So that should see the Deadpool star walk up TIFF’s opening night red carpet into Roy Thomson along with Hanks and Candy’s family for the gala world premiere.

Reynolds and co-producer Hanks said in a statement: “When you hear the name John Candy, your face lights up. 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. He went through the same struggles we all do, except now we talk about them. We are incredibly honored to have gotten to know the man better through this process and to bring the real John Candy to audiences starting with his hometown of Toronto.”

As with Amazon Prime launching John Candy: I Like Me in fall 2025 after its TIFF opening, Toronto in recent years has opened its annual September event with mainstream streaming titles like Netflix’s The Swimmers from director Sally El Hosaini, Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli’s animated pic The Boy and the Heron, and last year David Gordon Greene’s Nutcrackers, starring Ben Stiller, which opened Toronto before landing on Hulu.

Candy as a larger-than-life comedy star worked in around 44 films, including film classics from the 1980s and 1990s like Planes, Trains and Automobiles, Spaceballs, The Great Outdoors, Uncle Buck, Home Alone, Cool Runnings and Stripes, among many others.

Colin Hanks, the son of Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson, at age 8 appeared alongside Candy and his father and Wilson in the 1985 comedy Volunteers. His other acting credits include the Fargo series, the limited series The Offer and the Life in Pieces series.

Candy died suddenly on March 4, 1994, in Durango, Mexico, at 43 of a massive heart attack while he was working on the film Wagons East. John Candy: I Like Me is produced by Reynolds’ Maximum Effort production banner and will feature stories and memories from Candy’s family, who supported the project.

Close friends and longtime collaborators with Candy in Hollywood will also appear in the documentary alongside archival footage and home videos. The 50th edition of the Toronto Film Festival is set to run from Sept. 4 to 14. More lineup announcements will be made in the coming months.

[Dragon78]

Still one of my favorite actors.

[Moviefan2k4]

My favorite film he did is still Cool Runnings. This scene still remains very powerful.

Irv confronting his old coach for his Jamaican bobsled team. Cool runnings (1993) - YouTube

[Dragon78]

I have always been fond of Who's Harry Crumb.

[Jay Mammoth]

Hell yes please, Candy was a national treasure. (Yes I know he was Canadian)

[fattyjoe37]

Would be interested in this regardless, but the fact that it is directed by Colin Hanks is a big plus. Really loved his doc All Things Must Pass about Tower Records that came out about a decade ago.

[Bolty]

SCTV -- best ever comedy show.

[BluBonnet]

Originally Posted by fattyjoe37

Would be interested in this regardless, but the fact that it is directed by Colin Hanks is a big plus. Really loved his doc All Things Must Pass about Tower Records that came out about a decade ago.

I really liked that documentary, too

[skinjob69]

Can't wait to see it. Still moved by his epic performance in Tunnel Vision.

[Dragon78]

Also enjoyed Delirious.

[Martoto]

I have mixed feelings about these docs when they come along. I just know that I'll experience the anger and shock at loss all over again.

[Dragon78]

It is hard to believe it has been 31 years since he passed away.

[Zivouhr]

John Candy "I Like Me" is from Planes Trains and Automobiles (in his best role IMO).

You wanna hurt me? - YouTube

"I like me. My wife likes me. My customers like me. Because I'm the real article. What you see is what you get," said to the critical Niel Page played by Steve Martin.

John Candy was great, but sadly could not stop his addiction and it cost him his life at 42 in 1994 on the set of Wagon's East, his last film made.

[BluBonnet]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PrcQRsrBcCk

[Fat Phil]

"I guess my secret to acting would be that I pretend real hard."

Man, I miss John Candy. So damn funny.

[Dragon78]

I miss John Candy as well. At least most of his movies have made it to blu ray.