TORONTO, Sept 5 (Reuters) - At a time of heightened

patriotism in Canada, the Toronto International Film Festival

kicked off its 50th edition with a documentary honoring Canadian

comedian John Candy.

The world premiere of "John Candy: I Like Me" on Thursday

evening had the audience, including Prime Minister Mark Carney,

rolling with laughter remembering the comedy legend's classic

characters and pulling out tissues as they learned about the

actor's struggles with stardom.

Candy is known for classic performances on the comedy-variety

show "Second City Television" as well as Hollywood blockbusters

such as "Splash," "Stripes" and "Planes, Trains, and

Automobiles."

TIFF opens at a time when U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs

and threats to annex Canada have encouraged Canadians to support

home-grown businesses and films, travel locally and shun

U.S.-made products.

"In Canada, our sovereignty our identity, has come under threat,

and when Canadians heard those threats, they channeled their

inner John Candy, stood up, elbows up, wrote our own lines. ... We

have our own plans," Carney said before the premiere.

"Don't push a Canadian too far," he told the crowd, drawing

applause and cheers as he reminisced about watching some of his

favorite characters Candy portrayed, including his first

personal political idol - the mayor of Mellonville on "SCTV."

Directed by Colin Hanks and produced by Canadian Ryan Reynolds,

the documentary brings to life Candy's classic characters and

his work through archival materials and testimonials from family

and friends including Canadian co-stars Catherine O'Hara and

Eugene Levy. Other Candy co-stars such as Colin Hanks' father

Tom, Bill Murray and Macaulay Culkin also share stories.

The documentary also draws attention to fatphobia and anxiety

disorder, issues that shadowed Candy's life and career. The

Ontario native died of a heart attack in 1994 at age 43 .

"It turns out that the very things that he struggled with

were the same things that we all struggle with. And so that

sense of him being that everyman, I don't think people

understand just how accurate that was," Hanks said. He walked

with producer Reynolds, who wore a Canada T-shirt and blazer

embroidered with the coordinates of Newmarket, Ontario, Candy's

hometown.

The documentary will stream on Prime Video in October.