A documentary exploring the life and legacy of one of the most gifted comedy actors of all time, John Candy. The star died from a heart attack at the age of forty-three in 1994 whilst in Mexico filming Wagons East. 

“I Like Me” is a title taken from a speech Candy’s character makes in Planes, Trains and Automobiles. A character who despite his flaws accepted himself and was happy with himself. This documentary shows Candy to be one of the most likeable stars in Hollywood, a man loved so dearly that a cavalcade of talking heads have lined up to talk of their love for him in this documentary from Colin Hanks. A man who despite the barbs and heartless queries about his weight, suffered that pain in silence because he wanted to be a good person. 

When he was just five years old Candy’s father died of a heart attack at the young age of thirty-five. A life event that impacted him greatly. Candy is painted as a vulnerable, nice guy desperate to please everyone around him regardless of his own personal circumstances. Initially a shy man his drive resulted in him learning his comedy trade with The Second City comedy group before becoming one of the most well known comedy stars of the 1980s and 1990s.

This documentary will remind you, or show you depending on your age just how great a comedian and actor Candy was. Clips from the likes of Splash (1984), Planes, Trains and Automobiles (1987) and Uncle Buck (1989) are just a few of the films referenced. Whilst the likes of Bill Murray, Tom Hanks, Steve Martin, Martin Short, Catherine O’Hara, Eugene Levy, Dan Ackroyd and Mel Brooks wax lyrical about how great he was to work with and how nice a person he was. On top of this we hear from wife Rose, daughter Jennifer and son Chris about how much he meant to them and the pain losing him caused. 

There is no gotcha moment or insight that truly goes to the heart of the personal demons he suffered. But what the film does do is make you laugh, cry and remember his brilliance.