Homage x John Candy: I Like Me
A Celebration of Heart, Humor, and Humanity
John Candy had a rare gift. He made us laugh until we couldn’t breathe and somehow made us feel something real in the middle of the joke. You could see the kindness behind the punchline, the warmth behind the eyes, the humanity behind every pratfall and smile.
He wasn’t performing for us; he was with us. The dad next door. The friend who always knew how to lighten the mood. The guy who reminded you that life gets messy, but it’s better when you care anyway.
Candy brought a heartbeat to everything he worked on — from SCTV to Cool Runnings. Every role felt lived in, and every laugh carried a little truth. He made the ordinary feel big and the small moments unforgettable. Decades later, his laughter still echoes, his lines still land, and his stories still remind us how good it feels to be seen.
That legacy comes to life again with the release of John Candy: I Like Me, a new documentary that dives deep into the man behind the smile. Featuring rare footage, unseen moments, and stories from those who knew him best, it’s a heartfelt tribute to an actor who made the world a little softer, funnier, and kinder.
For us at HOMAGE, this is a moment to remember why we fell in love with John Candy in the first place — and why his spirit still feels like home. To mark the premiere of John Candy: I Like Me, we’re honoring his legacy with exclusive designs that capture the warmth, wit, and joy he brought to every role.
A Life Built on Heart
John Candy’s characters always felt familiar because they came from everyday life. The traveling salesman who just wants a little kindness. The uncle who means well but never quite gets it right. The goofball who wears his heart on his sleeve and somehow wins you over by the end.
Candy even had a knack for making cameos — like his unforgettable turn in Home Alone — feel instantly personal, as if you already knew him. The new documentary reminds us why: every performance carried the same heart he brought to real life.
HOMAGE spoke with Jennifer Candy and Chris Candy to learn more about the spirit behind the laughter we all love. When asked how their father would feel about the impact he’s still making today, Chris shared:
“Our dad was shy about that question. He treated people the way he wanted to be treated, but he also had a radar for anyone who needed to be uplifted. People saw that in him and loved it.”
And Jennifer Candy added:
“He would be humble about it for sure. He would make sure all the people who went into this project were celebrated just as much as he was.”
You can see that same spirit in Candy’s work. He didn’t chase laughs to be loud. He looked for the laugh that lifted everyone with him. That compassion — that humor built on the empathy Chris and Jennifer highlight — made John Candy someone audiences believed in, and someone everyone loved to work with.
He never looked down from the screen. He stood beside us. And in every movie, he left a reminder of what it means to lead with heart.
An Everyman Who Still Feels Like Family
For Candy, comedy was never a solo act. It was about the joy of collaboration — the spark that came from saying yes, and in the moment. His daughter Jennifer Candy noted, “He loved to create projects with his friends. Improv and creating new characters and worlds was always exciting for him. He also created his characters with great detail — all the way down to the fact that Del Griffith would have a perm.
When asked what part of his craft his father was most proud of, Chris Candy told us, “He loved to play and always wanted to carry his improvisational spirit and training throughout his career. Our dad loved to collaborate, and we really think his work on SCTV inspired so many of the great characters that followed, like Del Griffith, Uncle Buck, and Gus Polinski.”
That playful, improvisational energy – forged in the legendary stages of The Second City in Canada and brought to life on SCTV – gave his work its rare mix of spontaneity and soul. It made his roles human.
He wasn’t glamorous or untouchable. He was one of us. The kind of guy who, as his friends and co-workers recall in John Candy: I Like Me, always made you smile. When asked why John Candy’s legacy continues to resonate today, Chris Candy shared:
“Our dad was an Everyman, and we rooted for him. If he won, we won.”
That simple truth explains why his films endure. He was an Everyman. Planes, Trains and Automobiles isn’t just a road-trip story; it’s about patience, compassion, and the messy, funny parts of being human. Cool Runnings isn’t about bobsledding; it’s about believing in yourself when no one else does.
In that way, John Candy: I Like Me isn’t just a documentary. It’s a family reunion. And like all family reunions, all kinds of stories and perspectives come together. That’s the beauty of John Candy: I Like Me – you don’t just learn about John Candy; you finally get to meet him.
Through archival interviews, home movies, and never-before-seen footage, the film reveals the man behind the laugh – the friend, the husband, the dad cheering from the sidelines. It’s funny and full of heart, but it also carries an honesty that stops you cold. You see the joy that drove him and the tenderness that sometimes came with a little sadness. “This was a beautiful but overwhelming experience,” Chris Candy said of the filmmaking process. “I’m so happy we got to share an honest, true, and loving story with the world. This movie is a perfect supplement to his work, and in many ways, it feels like the last great John Candy film.”
Jennifer agreed that it was an exciting and emotional process. "I’m very proud of the end result and all the hard work that everyone put into it," she said.
“It truly has all the feels of a John Candy film.”
Directed by Colin Hanks and produced by Ryan Reynolds, John Candy: I Like Me premieres today, offering a fresh look at Candy’s journey – from his SCTV beginnings to the Hollywood classics that shaped generations. For fans old and new, it’s a reminder of what made him special: humor with heart.
Pay HOMAGE to the Legend
At HOMAGE, we celebrate the legendary athletes, personalities, and moments at the heart and soul of sports and pop culture — the ones who broke records, blazed trails, and built community through heart. John Candy fits right into that lineage.
Each piece in the collection celebrates a moment, a memory, and a man whose laughter still feels like home.
Because the past isn’t over — it’s part of who we are.
And for fans who grew up with John Candy’s movies, this one’s personal.
Relive the joy. Remember the heart. Pay HOMAGE.
