The infectious warmth and charm put on display by John Franklin Candy is a one-of-a-kind style that served each on-screen performance by the Canadian actor well. Bringing every role to life with genuine emotion and care, Candy was at the top of his game from his beginnings in Toronto’s branch of the famous variety improv show The Second City, to his major Hollywood roles.
Though he was gone too soon after a major heart attack at the age of 43, many find it tragic to think about the John Candy movies we never got to see, though the larger-than-life personality of the late actor still managed to be enjoyed within a nice collection of classic movies spanning both the ’80s and ’90s. Gone but never forgotten, here’s some of the most enjoyable performances by the lovable oaf, John Candy.
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7 Cool Runnings
Buena Vista Pictures
Starting the list off with a more traditional heartwarming story, Disney’s Cool Runnings saw John Candy as the washed up coach tasked with training the world’s first Jamaican bobsled team. The 1993 sports comedy has attracted a wide audience after its initial release, giving it a second-life as an endearingly cheesy cult classic. Despite being relatively late in Candy’s film career, the actor’s performance was incredibly solid, with an enjoyable mix of playful cynicism and genuine loyalty to his team, making his character wonderfully likable, and arguably the largest part of why many have returned to watch the tale of unlikely Olympic champions for many years since.
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6 Stripes
Columbia Pictures
Featured within a comedic ensemble cast, Candy makes a splash as a large and graceless army recruit training at Fort Arnold, where he hesitantly engages in post-training antics. Playing the well-meaning naive big guy, watching Candy’s character get roped along into stunts such as basic training and after hours mud wrestling do wonders in highlighting the actor’s ability to perform physical comedy, providing some of the most stand-out and memorable scenes. While not yet taking the full spotlight, Candy would still be planting the seeds for his rise to lead actor, but his acting skills would nonetheless be sharp as a tack in Stripes.
5 Blues Brothers
Universal Pictures
Taking another supporting role, 1980s soulful musical comedy hit The Blues Brothers featured Candy as the constantly outwitted parol office for one of the titular brothers, who believes to be helping the police in their pursuit, only to mostly stand in the way. As part of another large and talented cast it’s easy for some to not even notice John Candy’s inclusion as the character with so much going on, but those who are paying attention will definitely recognize a great actor at work. Though he’s not the only talent missed from the original cast, he definitely left his mark.
4 The Great Outdoors
Partnered up with long-time collaborator and fellow Second City alumni Dan Aykroyd, John Candy plays the disgruntled father on vacation hoping to relax with his family when his uninvited in-laws decide to tag along. The Great Outdoors does wonders for showcasing the raw acting talent and expert timing of Candy, who throughout the film is pushed to his boiling point by his polar-opposite brother-in-law (Aykroyd) who always seems to have to one-up everything. While not a traditionally inspired plot, there is still simple fun to be had with the story, even if you can spot the jokes coming from a mile away. With a sequel apparently being developed, we can only assume it would be a wasted effort without the major talents of John Candy involved.
3 Spaceballs
MGM/UA Communications Co.
The 1987 high-flying comedy Spaceballs was made all the richer with the inclusion of Candy as the Chewbacca-inspired half-dog, half-man hybrid, Barf. A favorite of many among director Mel Brooks library, Candy’s playful energy suited the parody genre well, and made a perfect fit for the style of humor on display. Though the world may have been fatigued by Star Wars inspired media by this point, something that rings true even today, Spaceballs was one of the first to really spoof the franchise, and with Second City stars such as Rick Moranis and John Candy as part of your cast, there’s no going wrong.
2 Planes, Trains and Automobiles
Paramount Pictures
Perhaps his most popular role, and for good reason, Planes, Trains and Automobiles has become a beloved staple of John Candy’s collection. Headlining alongside comedy legend Steve Martin, Candy plays the overbearingly friendly shower curtain ring salesman Del Griffith, who blissfully throws the duo off-course in an attempt to be helpful towards whom he sees as his new friend. Cementing itself as a Thanksgiving classic, the film perfectly utilizes Candy’s skills in both comedy and drama, the ladder being a demonstration of the actor’s breadth in talent.
Coming from the mind of director John Hughes, there’s an excellent mix of well-timed comedy and nicely paced emotional moments to make the movie feel like it has a lot of heart, and with Candy stealing the show in his most popular role, it’s easy to see who’s to thank.
1 Uncle Buck
Another John Hughes production, it seems as if no other actor in the world would be able to pull off the role of Uncle Buck like John Candy did. In a part lovingly crafted for the actor, Candy plays a smoker, gambler, and incessant drinker who adores his simple lifestyle, up until he’s tasked with babysitting his brother’s kids, who must now become acquainted with their Uncle Buck’s more carefree approach to life. Despite his past, Buck puts his greed aside to help the kids when they need him most, and proves to his family that he’s more than just a burnout.
While it may seem like the script can be pretty simple on the outside, there’s good reason why many consider the film one of the best family movies of all time, with the biggest being John Candy. It goes without saying that Candy blew audiences away with his portrayal of Uncle Buck, perfectly encapsulating the character and fully becoming the quintessential lovable uncle. The times that the term “perfect casting” is appropriately used can sometimes seem few and far between, however there exists little else that tops John Candy’s role in the 1989 family comedy, and while the world misses him dearly, there will always be an extra chair at the table for Uncle Buck.
