Remembering โคa Comedyโ Icon: New Documentary Celebrates Johnโข Candy
A new documentary, “John โคCandy I โฃLike Me,” premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) – a fitting location for the Canadian-born performer affectionately known as “Johnny Toronto.” backed by Amazon Studios, โthe film is the โคthird documentary effort from Colin Hanks โand offersโฃ a complete look at the life and career of beloved comedy actor John Candy.
The documentary traces Candy’s journey from his early days performing โฃsketches on television toโฃ his rise as aโ central figure in 1980s and 90s Hollywood comedy. Utilizing interviews with โฃfamily, colleagues, โฃand previously unseen archival footage, the film paints a portrait of an artist who achieved immense success while remaining grounded and relatable.
Beyond โcelebrating his unforgettable roles and cinematic legacy – tragically cutโค short โby a heart attack in 1994 – the documentary delves into lesser-known aspects of Candy’s personal life,revealing a more intimate andโข human side.
A significantโข element uncovered during production was the pervasive โfatphobia Candy faced throughout his career. Hanksโข and co-producer Ryan Reynolds discovered numerous instances of weight-based commentary and jokesโฃ in archival interviews and media appearances. While โmuch of this material wasโฃ ultimately omitted, some fragments were retained to illustrate the media pressureโค Candy endured.
Ryan Reynolds shared in Toronto that he even reached out to a journalist who had previously made inappropriate comments, not to publicly criticizeโฃ them, but to initiate โขa conversation about the contextโ and โคimplications of such remarks. Reynolds explained the intention wasโ toโ spark dialog about the challenging media environment Candy navigated, and how he consistently responded โwithโ wit and a sense โof humor.
Ultimately, “John Candy I Like me” aims to be more than justโ a career retrospective.it’s a choral portrait of a man remembered by those who knew him โbest – a man whose closeness and charisma extended far beyondโค hisโ boxโ office success.
“Johnโ Candy I Like Me” will premiere on Amazon Primeโค Video in the United States on October 10th. A release dateโ for other countries, including Spain, is โขstill pending.