John Candy: I Like Me

Directed by Colin Hanks, John Candy: I Like Me documents the life and times of the beloved title figure – with the movie exploring his professional rise and personal exploits. It’s inherently compelling subject matter that Hanks employs in service of a consistently compelling (and often unexpectedly emotional) piece of work, as the picture boasts engaging interviews with many of Candy’s collaborators and his friends and family – with, in terms of the latter, Hanks eliciting interesting, eye-opening stories about the man’s personal life from his wife and children. There’s little doubt, as well, that John Candy: I Like Me benefits from the inclusion of fascinating clips and behind-the-scenes footage, and it’s clear, too, that the proliferation of engrossing stories and anecdotes perpetuates the continually spellbinding atmosphere. And while the film is ultimately a touch on the long side (ie it’s almost too much of a good thing), John Candy: I Like Me, by and large, comes off as a superb (and definitive) documentary about one of cinema’s most beloved figures.

***1/2 out of ****