:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(749x0:751x2)/john-candy-stripes-091025-60e40a3e662843a0995fa8fc3ac0a8c3.jpg)
John Candy Disliked ‘Stripes‘ Mud wrestling Scene,Documentary Reveals
The beloved Planes,Trains and Automobiles actor reportedly had a strong aversion to a scene in his 1981 comedy Stripes involving a mud wrestling match. A new documentary, John Candy: I Like Me, details the discomfort Candy experienced as audience members physically engaged with him during the scene, believing his size meant he couldn’t be hurt.
The documentary, which premiered September 4 at the Toronto International Film Festival, sheds light on Candy’s struggles with public perception of his weight and the pressures of fame. Bill Murray recounted in the film that women in the audience would pull at Candy’s ears and otherwise take advantage of the situation, assuming his large stature made him impervious to harm. ”He didn’t like that, he didn’t enjoy that,” Murray said. “I understood that.”
The scene involved Candy’s character being playfully wrestled in the mud by female recruits. According to Murray, audience members mistakenly believed they could physically abuse Candy without consequence. “[They’d think that] he’s so big, I couldn’t possibly hurt him,” Murray explained.
Beyond the wrestling scene, the documentary explores Candy’s broader discomfort with media focus on his weight. When a journalist once asked if a “lean, meen fighting machine” was “dying to get out,” Candy responded, “No, there isn’t. I’m quite happy the way I am.” He later added, when asked if losing weight would change things, “If I lost a lot of weight, I don’t think it would affect me that much.”
John Candy: I Like Me is directed by Colin Hanks and produced by Ryan Reynolds. The film offers a deeper look into the life and career of the comedic icon, revealing a man who grappled with the spotlight and the often-insensitive commentary surrounding his physical appearance.
