After that, Candy's career started heading south. He had a memorable bit part in Home Alone and lent his voice to the underrated Disney film The Rescuers Down Under, but his next two starring roles were flops. Nothing But Trouble, a comedy starring Candy, Chevy Chase, and Dan Aykroyd, was a notorious flop. I admit that I haven't seen the entire film, but from what I have seen I have very little desire to. Only the Lonely was an attempt to give Candy a dramatic script to work with, but it really didn't resonate with audiences or critics, although some have argued in the ensuing years that the film was better than it's reputed to be. I did see Only the Lonely, but it was eighteen years ago in the theater; I was ten years old. I don't remember liking it, but I'd like to watch it again from an adult perspective before passing a final judgment. Candy returned to his comedy roots in Delirious, which is the other Candy film I haven't seen, mainly because it wasn't very well-regarded either.
Looking to take a major step towards drama, Candy appeared among the all-star ensemble of Oliver Stone's JFK, as greasy New Orleans attorney Dean Andrews. Candy's dialogue is a bit over-the-top, although I do understand that it's pretty accurate. Most importantly, Candy lends a sense of gravity to the character that separates him from the "lovable buffoons" he used to play.
Candy's last big hit was Cool Runnings, a Disney comedy about bobsledding that was surprisingly successful. The film has the highs and lows of any non-animated Disney film, but Candy does his part to hold up his end, especially as the dramatic anchor of the film. He does, however, get the film's funniest line: "Your bones don't break in a bobsled. Oh, no ... they shatter."
Candy completed Canadian Bacon in 1994, a film written and directed by Michael Moore (yes, that Michael Moore). It was a hearty attempt at political satire, but neither the satire nor the comedy made the film memorable. And again, Candy gets the film's funniest line — after hearing a Mountie say "aboot" instead of "about" Candy's anti-Canadian character leers at him and says, "We have ways of making you pronounce the letter 'O.'"
Article comments
1 - Walter Raab
Great and fitting tribute. Please give Only the Lonely another chance. Candy, Ally Sheedy and Jim Belushi are great and the movie has a fantastic supporting cast. One of my favorites!
2 - Matthew T. Sussman
Moose outside should've told you.
3 - Al Barger
Second on the thumbs up for Only the Lonely. There was more heart and real personality than in most romantic comedies. Ally Sheedy and John Candy made a fine pair rather than the usual cookie cutter characters, and a much more thoughtful and memorable film than, say, Sleepless in Seattle.
4 - Aaron Whitehead
Thanks, guys. I will give Only the Lonely another try. Not only was I very young when I saw it, but I was probably expecting another Uncle Buck and was completely thrown by the different tone. I'll see if I can't find a copy sometime soon and add a comment with my reaction.
Matt -- I can't believe I forgot to mention Candy in Vacation. Candy, Chevy Chase and Eddie Bracken are just too much to handle in that last scene.
I also forgot the film Hot to Trot, a Bobcat Goldthwait vehicle with Candy as the voice of a talking horse. Surprisingly enough, it holds up pretty well today, mainly because of Candy and a HILARIOUS preformance by Dabney Coleman.
5 - Lisa McKay
Nice piece, Aaron, I'm a fan of Candy's work too and you've done a good job of capturing the essential sweetness at the core of his personality. You've made some good choices here (I'll confess to liking Uncle Buck more than most critics did, though), and your comments about Plains, Trains and Automobiles are spot on, it's a really enjoyable and heartfelt film.