John Candy made you laugh in Uncle Buck and Planes, Trains, and Automobiles.
But behind that charm was a private, sometimes heavy life.
Thanks to Tim Ferriss for recommending this one in his 5-Bullet Friday, saying it starts a bit slow but really hits its stride.
Trailer for “John Candy: I Like Me”
You Can’t Make This Sh!t Up
- John Candy died at 43 years old from a heart attack while filming in Mexico—right as he was still landing major roles and entering his prime.
- The title comes from his line in “Planes, Trains and Automobiles” (“I like me”). This doc makes it clear that the line wasn’t a joke, it was something he was still trying to believe.
Watch “John Candy: I Like Me”
You can watch “John Candy: I Like Me” on Prime Video.
Ratings:
- My Rating: 92/100
- IMDB Rating: 8.0/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Ratings: 96/100 (Users); 89/100 (Critics)
Director’s Note: Colin Hanks directs this one. You can feel that “comedian honoring comedians” tone throughout—lots of respect, but also a willingness to show the harder stuff beneath the surface.
Release Date: 2025
Other Unique Stuff
- John Candy and his SCTV crew (Eugene Levy, Catherine O’Hara, Rick Moranis) quietly built a Canadian comedy machine that rivaled “Saturday Night Live” and fed Hollywood talent for years.
- Despite being one of the most recognizable faces in comedy, the home video footage shows a completely different side of Candy—quiet, introspective, and far less confident than the big, lovable characters he played on screen.
- Despite being one of the biggest comedy stars of the ’80s and early ’90s, he kept huge parts of his personal life private—even close collaborators didn’t fully know how much pressure and self-doubt he carried.
Wrap Up:
“John Candy: I Like Me” is funny, but it hits harder as a story about pressure, identity, and how fame doesn’t fix self-doubt. If you grew up watching him, this one lands.
Thanks for reading!
Heather Fenty, Guest Writer, Daily Doc