The 50th Toronto Film Festival is fast approaching and one of this seasons hotly anticipated releases is a documentary honouring late great Canadian comedian John Candy. Directed by Colin Hanks and produced by Ryan Reynolds, “John Candy: I Like Me” is set to open the festival on September 4th at Roy Thomson Hall, and follows the Toronto-born comedians rise to fame from Canada’s own sketch comedy show SCTV to cult comedy films like “Uncle Buck,” “Planes, Trains and Automobiles,” “Spaceballs” and others before unexpectedly dying at the age of 43.
“Comedy fans all over the world grew up on John Candy’s humour. We love that John’s global career started in Toronto. Colin Hanks has made a hugely entertaining film packed with some of Hollywood’s biggest stars, but like John, this movie is all heart. For us, it’s the perfect way to kick off TIFF’s 50th edition.”
-Cameron Bailey, CEO of TIFF.
While we’re still waiting for a trailer to be released the documentary promises to be a heartfelt tribute to the legendary icon including stories and memories from Candy’s close family, friends, and longtime collaborators.
Hanks and Reynolds told TIFF: “When you hear the name John Candy, your face lights up. 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. He went through the same struggles we all do, except now we talk about them. We are incredibly honored to have gotten to know the man better through this process and to bring the real John Candy to audiences starting with his hometown of Toronto.”
For information on the film and the Toronto International Film Festival, click here.