Documentary

Directed By Colin Hanks

Release year: 2025

Studio/Streamer: Amazon

Runtime: 113 minutes

Audio Description produced By: (Need Credit)

Written By: (Need Credit)

What is It?: A warm and relatively comprehensive look at the life and legacy of actor and comedian John Candy, as told through the people who remember him best.

What Works: Colin Hanks, on his third documentary, strikes his biggest chord by exploring one of the most liked comedians of all time. Just looking at the talent that showed up here, from Steve Martin, Tom hanks, and Bill Murray, to Macaulay Culkin, who worked with Candy on Uncle Buck and Home Alone, despite not having any scenes with him in the latter.

We hear tales of Candy growing up, and dreaming of doing anything but comedy. He wanted to be a football player, but he blew out his knee. Then he wanted to fight in Vietnam, but that blown knee kept him away from war. Comedy just kind of happened to Candy, and his shyness often was a byproduct of him just playing a version of himself.

Hanks doesn’t seek to destroy Candy’s legacy, and does briefly touch on Candy’s struggles with his weight, drinking, and smoking, all of which contributed to death at the age of 43. But it isn’t a smear campaign, but rather a look at an artist and how you are shaped by circumstance. His identity was warmth, and there’s a hint that something else was under the surface.

It is the celebrity doc of the year, following in the footsteps of Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story and Still: A Michael J Fox story.

I don’t see it making waves at the Oscars, beyond perhaps the shortlist, simply because this branch never goes for this type of film, even when it is popular. Won’t You Be My neighbor seemed like a slam dunk, until it wasn’t. I guess they don’t like trips down memory lane.

The Audio Description: Overall, solid, but there was one person speaking that I couldn’t figure out who it was. Perhaps they were introduced quickly, and my brain didn’t process, but then it made me think there’s no rule against continuing to use names in a talking head doc.

You Might Like it If: You love John candy.

You Might Not Like it If: You have no idea who John Candy is, and want to keep it that way.

Final thoughts: An exploration of the artist we came to love and know, reminding us a talent like his cannot be easily replicated.

Fresh: Final Grade: 8.6/10