Directed by Colin Hanks.
Not a month goes by in my family without someone referencing Uncle Buck. It’s fair to say that John Candy has a special place in both my heart and the hearts of my family members. Therefore, I was especially excited to watch Colin Hanks’ film about John Candy‘s life, which, tragically, ended much too soon back in 1994. Actor John Candy, a gentle giant with a special comedic talent, is best known for Planes, Trains, and Automobiles and the many other John Hughes films in which he appeared. This latest Amazon Prime Video documentary paints a beautiful portrait of Candy but is, ultimately, both heartwarming and heartbreaking, as you see how many lives he touched, how much of a positive inspiration he was to others in the industry, but also the hole that he left behind for his family. A beloved father, actor, and comedian, John Candy was larger than life, and the documentary does a good job of emphasizing just how talented he was with archival footage of his Second City skits, his films, and plenty of footage of him making public appearances and still being witty as ever.
The film blends archival footage and a bunch of interviews with everyone from Bill Murray and Eugene Levy to Candy’s son and daughter. They take you on a journey from Candy’s tragic loss of his father when he was only five years old, all the way up to his own death and funeral. In one of the first moments of the documentary, Bill Murray, who producer Ryan Reynolds was lucky enough to get a hold of for this documentary (given Murray’s reputation for being hard to reach), mentions that it’s difficult to really do a full documentary about John Candy because he is so beloved and that people will have very little of note that is negative to say about him. However, despite not having any noticeable edges to him or stuff like that, this loving portrait is still worth a watch for cineastes and fans of both Candy and Hughes.
For myself, a major fan of Candy’s, I found it to be a nice reminder of how big an imprint or impact he left on my life, as well as on so many other lives out there (fans, like Conan O’Brien, and otherwise), and it reminded me how much I see myself in John Candy. But it also broke my heart in a way that I didn’t expect it to. Of course, I knew that the documentary would go into his tragically early death. But I think the thing that will stick with me the most from the documentary is these images and interviews that indicate John Candy was, disappointingly, treated differently for his weight and his wide frame. Again, I’ve always seen a lot of myself in John Candy, as I share his brand of comedy, his sense of humor, and, well, a wide frame. I’m a big guy, and it really broke me to see him having to face interviewers who talked down to him because of his weight, and it hurt to see Bill Murray, clearly emotional, talking about how John Candy was mistreated during a scene in Stripes.
At the same time, it does fill you with warmth to see Catherine O’Hara, Conan O’Brien, and so many others speak to their love of him and his style of comedy. Even though he hasn’t been with the world for more than 30 years, the people who have been interviewed here still light up at the thought of his humor, his personas, and the love and dedication he brought to his work and the people around him. As such, Colin Hanks’ documentary touches your heart in more ways than one. The documentary’s love shines through, and so does Candy’s immense charm and comedic talents. It paints the picture of someone who left us way too soon, but whose comedic stylings started a wave of comedy that influenced others, that warmed millions, and that we absolutely shouldn’t forget. I highly recommend it to cinephiles everywhere.
8 out of 10
– Review written by Jeffrey Rex Bertelsen.
I'm Jeffrey Rex 