"An appealing, ultimately melancholy tribute to the late Canadian comic."

Interviewees: John Candy, Bill Murray, Chris Candy, Jennifer Candy-Sullivan, Steve Aker, Rose Candy, Pat Kelly, Terry Enright, Dan Aykroyd, Dave Thomas, Martin Short, Steve Martin, Eugene Levy, Catherine O'Hara

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"I could be a cold-hearted cynic like you... but I don't like to hurt people's feelings. Well, you think what you want about me; I'm not changing. I like... I like me. My wife likes me. My customers like me." – John Candy as Del in Planes, Trains & Automobiles

Why watch this? He was big. Big-hearted. Loud. He genuinely cared for people.

Plot Summary: This documentary explores the life and legacy of the beloved John Candy through never-before-seen home videos, archival footage, and personal, heartfelt interviews with his family and collaborators. The documentary traces his journey from Toronto's comedy scene to Hollywood stardom, highlighting his dedication to bringing joy to audiences while managing the pressures of fame. The film also delves into his personal life and the impact of his father's early death, providing a moving, intimate portrait.
 

Dad's Preview: There's always going to be a connection for me to John Candy. As a person who struggles with my weight, I am laser-focused on heavy people in the limelight, watching their interviews, grasping every hint of vulnerability. As we see in this documentary, Candy was a champ at using his size to garner opportunities. However, during interviews, we also glean that he doesn't want to talk about his exterior. I can relate - most of us harbor this same self-consciousness. In his films, he spoke to us and that is belonging. Thanks to a ton of interviews with countless family, friends and fellow actors, we get a glimpse at the man off-screen. He worked hard, kept us laughing, and made sure everyone around him was OK. Who even does that? Apparently John Candy did.

Amazon MGM Studios, Maximum Effort, Company Name,
Zipper Bros Films; Amazon Prime Video