John Candy

Sat, 09/06/2008 - 4:04pm by jaegerla

John Candy is one of my favorite actors. Maybe he wasn't the most versatile performer, and perhaps the roles he chose did not lend themselves to much complexity. But every movie the man made was a classic. And what made them classic was a combination of three factors:

1) The characters he played were extremely relatable and likeable. Who wouldn't want to go on a trip up north with him and the 'fam to The Great Outdoors?

2) It is fun to live vicariously through his roles. How great would it be to creep out "Bug" at the local teenager hideout or make giant pancakes as in Uncle Buck, and how fun would it be to spend an entire summer learning to sail with Scully like he did in Summer Rental?

3) His films remind you of what is truly important in life. Planes, Trains, and Automobiles and Brewster's Millions are two among many movies he starred in that point out the importance of friendship, charity, and honesty.

John Candy passed away on March 4, 1994 at only 44 years old, but he left us with dozens of movies to enjoy over and over again.