Trailer's out for 'John Candy: I Like Me' – emotional journey behind comedy legend’s life and career

'John Candy: I Like Me' documentary premieres at TIFF on Sept. 4 and streams globally on Prime Video October 10.

A new trailer for John Candy: I Like Me, an upcoming feature documentary about the beloved Canadian comedian, reveals a deeper, more emotional side to the late star. Directed by Colin Hanks and produced by Ryan Reynolds, the film will make its world premiere on Thursday night at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival before streaming on Prime Video beginning October 10.

Best known for his roles in Planes, Trains and Automobiles, Uncle Buck, and Spaceballs, Candy was a fixture of 1980s and early ’90s Hollywood comedies. However, the new trailer offers a more vulnerable portrait of the actor, exploring his internal battles and emotional complexity behind the laughter.

The film’s title is a nod to a memorable line from Planes, Trains and Automobiles, and the documentary includes commentary from a range of Candy’s friends, collaborators, and family members. The teaser opens with a heartfelt tribute from Bill Murray, who becomes visibly emotional as he reflects on their friendship: “I could tell you what was right about John Candy, or what was wrong. But he was my friend.”

Other well-known voices featured in the film include Steve Martin, Catherine O’Hara, Eugene Levy, Dan Aykroyd, Martin Short, Mel Brooks, and Tom Hanks. Candy’s children, Chris Candy and Jennifer Candy-Sullivan, also appear in the documentary and contributed to its production alongside their mother, Rosemary Margaret Hobor.

The trailer touches on Candy’s personal struggles, including the loss of his father during childhood and the pressures of fame. Chris Candy remarks in the trailer, “If you go a whole lifetime eating your feelings, drinking your feelings, smoking your nerves, it shows up.”

In a joint statement, Hanks and Reynolds said, “He wasn’t just a great actor; he was an even better person. People loved his everyman qualities, but they didn’t know how relatable John really was.” The filmmakers added that the documentary offers “never-before-seen home videos, intimate access to his family, and candid recollections” to present a fuller picture of Candy’s life.

Produced by Maximum Effort and several members of the Candy family, John Candy: I Like Me is a heartfelt tribute to a performer whose legacy continues to resonate decades after his passing in 1994.