Imagine losing a comedy legend like John Candy at just 43—it’s a loss that still stings decades later. But here’s where it gets fascinating: Ryan Reynolds and Colin Hanks have teamed up to honor Candy’s legacy with the documentary John Candy: I Like Me, now streaming on Prime Video. Directed by Hanks, who knew Candy personally as a child, the film is a heartfelt tribute to the Canadian comedy icon. But getting this project off the ground wasn’t easy—especially when it came to securing interviews with two of Candy’s closest collaborators: Dan Aykroyd and Bill Murray. And this is the part most people miss: Aykroyd’s involvement almost didn’t happen, and the story of how Reynolds finally got him on board is nothing short of delightfully bizarre.
During a Q&A after a Chicago screening, Reynolds shared the hilariously unconventional way Aykroyd agreed to participate. After weeks of searching, Reynolds received a call from Aykroyd himself, who laid out the terms in his signature no-nonsense style: ‘Ryan, it’s Dan. Okay, here’s what we’re gonna do, kid. You come up here. You have dinner with me. You spend the night. In the morning, you do the interview, and then you get the f** out.’* But the quirks didn’t stop there. Aykroyd personally picked Reynolds up from the airport—likely to keep his home address a secret—in one of the Lincoln town cars from the 1997 cult classic Grosse Pointe Blank. Reynolds, a massive fan of the film, was in awe. ‘I said, ‘Dan, is this the car from *Grosse Pointe Blank?’ and he went, ‘Yeah. I got five of ’em, kid, for 50 grand, from the movie.’ So I was in f****g heaven,’ Reynolds recalled.
But here’s where it gets controversial: While Aykroyd’s involvement was essential, his eulogy for Candy—featured prominently in the documentary—is both heart-wrenching and divisive. He describes Candy as a ‘titan of a gentle, golden man’ who lived ‘as full a life as any human can live.’ Some viewers find it poetic, while others argue it romanticizes a life cut tragically short. What do you think? Does Aykroyd’s tribute honor Candy’s legacy, or does it gloss over the pain of his untimely death? Let’s discuss in the comments.
Aykroyd and Candy’s on-screen chemistry was undeniable, from their early collaboration in Steven Spielberg’s underrated 1979 comedy 1941 to their iconic roles in The Blues Brothers and The Great Outdoors. The latter, though initially overlooked by critics, remains a fan favorite and a testament to their friendship. Without Aykroyd’s candid recollections, John Candy: I Like Me would’ve missed a crucial piece of the puzzle. So, while Reynolds may have tracked down Aykroyd, it’s clear Aykroyd was the one calling the shots—and we’re all better for it. Stream the documentary now on Amazon Prime Video and decide for yourself: is this the definitive tribute to John Candy, or is there more to his story that remains untold?
