Ryan Reynolds on the enduring legacy of John Candy: “His movies mean so much to me”
Ryan Reynolds didn’t know John Candy personally, but that hasn’t stopped the Canadian actor from doing everything he can to ensure the world remembers him rightly. During a recent appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Ryan Reynolds opened up about co-producing a new documentary on the late comedy legend, describing Candy as a “beautiful storyteller” who left the world far too soon.
“I’m making a documentary about John Candy,” Ryan Reynolds confirmed. “Colin Hanks is also doing it with me.” The project is rooted in admiration, memory, and a deep sense of duty to preserve the legacy of someone who meant a great deal to audiences and to Ryan Reynolds himself.
“I get to meet heroes. There was a group of eight to ten people that really were generation-defining creators,” he told Colbert, his voice tinged with reverence.
Candy’s illustrious career began with the Second City comedy troupe in the 1970s, leading to his breakout on SCTV alongside fellow comedians like Eugene Levy and Catherine O’Hara. He became a household name with roles in films such as Uncle Buck, Planes, Trains and Automobiles, and Cool Runnings, showcasing his unique ability to blend humour with heartfelt emotion.
Among his most beloved performances is the titular role in the 1989 effort Uncle Buck, directed by John Hughes. In this film, Candy played a bumbling yet big-hearted uncle who steps in to care for his brother’s children, delivering a performance that balanced comedic chaos with heartfelt sincerity. Uncle Buck not only solidified Candy’s status as a leading man in comedy but also demonstrated his unique capacity to infuse humour with genuine emotion. Candy was more than just a laugh-track legend. According to Reynolds, what made John Candy truly remarkable was his off-camera generosity.
“He was so generous with people, and he was a good person when no one was watching. And I think that’s really important,” Reynolds explained, striking a chord not just as a fan, but as someone who clearly values kindness over celebrity. The way he spoke of Candy wasn’t just biographical, it was almost elegiac, a public love letter from one artist to another.
That love letter began long before the announcement of the documentary. In 2020, Reynolds shared a moving tribute to Candy on Instagram, writing: “It’s been 26 years since we lost John Candy. He always walked that tightrope between hilarious and heartbreaking. His movies mean so much to me. If you haven’t seen his work, check it out. He’s absolutely beautiful.”
“It’s wonderful to talk to storytellers about a beautiful man, who was a beautiful storyteller,” Reynolds said during the interview. “Who passed at 43, way too young.”
It’s easy to mythologise John Candy. His characters are etched into pop culture: the loud, lovable lunkhead with a heart of gold. But Reynolds seems intent on going deeper.
No official release date has been announced, but the excitement is palpable. If Reynolds’ passion is any indication, this won’t just be another celebrity retrospective. It will be a heartfelt, funny, and reverent portrait of an artist who defined a generation, and continues to warm hearts long after his passing.
