‘John Candy: I Like Me’ – Review
There are some performers whose warmth radiates so deeply that even decades after their passing, their presence is still felt; and their absence still hurts. John Candy was one of those rare souls. And in the deeply heartfelt and beautifully reflective documentary John Candy: I Like Me, now streaming on Prime Video, audiences are treated to a loving tribute to a man who brought laughter to millions while quietly carrying burdens of his own.
Directed with tenderness and a clear admiration for its subject, I Like Me charts Candy’s life from his early days growing up in Ontario, to his breakout success with SCTV, and onward to his unforgettable film career in classics such as Planes, Trains and Automobiles, Uncle Buck, and Cool Runnings. The documentary does more than simply walk us through his career highlights; it seeks to understand the heart of the man behind the humour. And what a heart it was.
Candy’s kindness was legendary. Friends, family, and collaborators alike speak with a kind of emotional awe when describing him, including an especially poignant and emotional recollection from Candy’s young co-star, Macaulay Culkin, that will bring about all the emotion from audiences, and showcases just how much of a cherished and good person Candy was. He was the guy who always asked how you were doing, who always gave people the time of day, who always tried to make others feel valued. That warmth translated onto the screen in ways audiences instantly connected with. Candy didn’t just make people laugh—he made them feel seen.
But I Like Me isn’t afraid to touch the sorrow that shadowed him. The pressure Candy felt, to succeed, to provide, to prove himself worthy, significantly weighed on him. His struggles with anxiety, health, and self-image are handled with sensitivity, not sensationalism. The film’s title itself is taken from a line in Planes, Trains and Automobiles, where Candy’s character defends himself with a simple truth: “I like me.” Hearing it here feels like both a declaration and a wish.
What truly gives the documentary its emotional power is the presence of Candy’s children, Jennifer and Chris. Their recollections are warm, real, and sometimes heartrending. To them, he wasn’t a comedic icon: he was Dad. A gentle, goofy, loving father who adored his family with everything he had. Their voices remind us that this story is not just about a performer we lost too soon, but a man whose departure left real people navigating grief and memory.
Beautiful archival footage, touching behind-the-scenes stories, and a rich tapestry of interviews come together to paint a full picture of Candy’s life: joyous, complicated, generous, human. And in doing so, John Candy: I Like Me becomes something more than nostalgia; it becomes a celebration of empathy and emotional sincerity in a world that often undervalues both.
John Candy: I Like Me is a documentary that will make you laugh. It will almost certainly make you cry. And most importantly, it will remind you of the magic of John Candy: his humanity, his humour, and his heart. A gentle giant who made the world brighter simply by being in it.
Image: Prime Video
