Movie Review - John Candy: I Like Me

Director: Colin Hanks
Genre: Documentary
Runtime: 117 minutes
Year: 2025
Starring: John Candy, Bill Murray, Tom Hanks, Dan Aykroyd, Steve Martin, Catherine O’Hara, Eugene Levy, Martin Short
 
Description: Explores the life and legacy of the iconic funnyman John Candy, who died of a heart attack in 1994, at the age of 43.
 
Review: If you grew up in the 80s and 90s, like me, you probably also grew up with John Candy movies. The funnyman who starred in movies like “Planes, Trains and Automobiles”, “Uncle Buck” “Splash” and “Home Alone” was a big part of my childhood. And for anyone like me, the documentary “John Candy: I Like Me” is a must-see.

The title refers to a quote from his character Del Griffith, in “Planes, Trains and Automobiles”, where he tells Steve Martin that he likes who he is, after Martin just completely trashed him. If you have no idea who Candy was, this documentary gives you some insight into his life and career. But it will not have the emotional load. For me, this was a very heartwarming, moving tribute to the comedian. His family, friends and colleagues praise Candy with warm and honest stories about him. Candy was such a loving man and he touched the lives of everyone he met. And of the people who watch his movies.

Like I stated before, we watched a lot of John Candy films during my childhood years, and still. “Planes, Trains and Automobiles” is an absolute favorite in my family and we still revisit it every holiday season. If you grew watching him, this documentary will definitely get you emotional.

Rating: 5/ 5

100 Movie Challenge 2016 - # 155: Taking Woodstock

Director: Ang Lee
Genre: Comedy/ Drama
Runtime: 110 minutes
Year: 2009
Starring: Emile Hirsch, Liev Schreiber, Paul Dano, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Dan Fogler, Imelda Staunton, Eugene Levy, Henry Goodman, Jonathan Groff, Mamie Gummer, Kevin Sussman, Skylar Astin, Demetri Martin

Description: A man (Demetri Martin)) working at his parents' motel in the Catskills inadvertently sets in motion the generation-defining concert in the summer of 1969.

Review: Director Ang Lee decided to work with a lighter theme this time, after movies like “Brokeback Mountain” and “Lust, Caution”. “Taking Woodstock” it the end result.
A film with the word Woodstock in the title, will give the audience certain expectations. The rock festival will always be legendary and is seen as a turning point in world history. Ang Lee focusses on the organization of the concert, more than the event itself. The film is based on the memoires of Elliot Tiber, a man that accidentally became important in that organization. Elliot works at his parent’s hotel, that is having trouble. No tourists and his parents don’t see the seriousness of the problem. Elliot sees an opportunity when a city nearby is organizing a concert, but its permit is declined. He arranges a permit himself and shows the terrain. But more people are interested in coming to the concert than Elliot would have ever imagined.
“Taking Woodstock” was criticized, because the movie didn’t show anything from the concert itself. And I kind of see where it’s coming from. I know it wasn’t Lee’s intention to reconstruct the concert, but in a movie about Woodstock they could have given us a little bit of the music. Lee focusses more on the feeling that the concert gave the many visitors and how lots of young people became adults during this festival. Elliot has a tough relationship with his parents and is clearly struggling with his sexuality. Woodstock is a turning point for him.
The movie could easily fall into cliché. Elliot’s development isn’t as present, because it’s alternated with eccentric supporting characters, like Vietnam veteran Billy, the transsexual Vilma, but also the chaos that Woodstock causes.
Like many others, I expected to see more of Woodstock itself. This makes it a little disappointing. But overall, “Taking Woodstock” is a pretty fun film.

Rating: 3/ 5

100 Movie Challenge 2016 - # 92: Finding Dory

Director: Andrew Stanton, Angus MacLane
Genre: Animation/ Adventure/ Comedy
Runtime: 103 minutes
Year: 2016
Starring: Ellen DeGeneres, Albert Brooks, Ed O’Neill, Kaitlin Olson, Hayden Rolence, Ty Burrell, Diane Keaton, Eugene Levy, Idris Elba, Dominic West, Bill Hader, Kate McKinnon, Sigourney Weaver, John Ratzenberg

Description: The friendly-but-forgetful blue tang fish begins a search for her long-lost parents, and everyone learns a few things about the real meaning of family along the way.

Review: A year after the happenings in “Finding Nemo”, Marlin, Nemo and Dory live a fun fish live in the ocean. One day forgetful Dory is reminded of family and that she must have a family too. Dory decides to find her family and Marlin and Nemo are worried that she might not be safe.
It’s been thirteen years since “Finding Nemo” and it was one of Pixar’s most beloved tales. Ellen DeGeneres, who voices Dory, has campaign for a sequel for years. And here it is.
All the ingredients to make “Finding Dory” a success too are present. And the new characters make it a fresh film. Especially octopus Hank is a fun new addition. But there is also near sighted whale shark Destiny and beluga Bailey. The voice peformances are great, the right actors were choosen.
Besides a lot of humor, there is also action. And the film looks so beautiful, with a gorgeous color palet. What I lovede most about the story is that there is no villain, which makes it really original. A loveable fish is trying to find her family and meets new friends, no enemies.
Is it as good as “Finding Nemo”? No. Is it a great Pixar animation? Hell yeah!

Rating: 4,5/ 5