A thoroughly likable documentary about a thoroughly likable man. We’re taken back to John Candy’s early days in Canada, from finding his place on Second City to landing a role in Steven Spielberg’s 1941 (1979) and making the transfer to Hollywood and a successful movie career, where the considerable size of his body seemed to matter as much as his friendly charisma.

Candy was funny, and easy to love… but as we can see in old interview clips he wasn’t too happy talking about his weight. In this film, friends and family open the door to some of Candy’s darker sides.

The filmmakers find a balance, delivering a sweet, gripping documentary that connects dots between his movies and his personality.

2025-U.S. 113 min. Color. Directed by Colin Hanks. 

Trivia: Co-produced by Ryan Reynolds and Hanks, whose father is interviewed in the film, along with Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Catherine O’Hara, Eugene Levy, Macaulay Culkin, Martin Short, Mel Brooks, Chris Columbus and Conan O’Brien. First shown at the Toronto film festival, then released on Prime Video.

Last word: “He made me feel important [when I was seven]. He made me feel heard. He made me feel seen in ways that, you know, young kids don’t really do. And I cherish that. People always refer to my dad as the nicest guy in Hollywood. And I just want to scream, ‘Well, you clearly have never heard of John Candy!'” (Colin Hanks, NPR)