Canadian Bacon (1995)

By Greg
Score 5/10

This was to be the final film that was released starring John Candy. After his death, Wagons East was a disappointment, so I think with strategy this film was released a year later. It flopped and bombed huge. I felt it was the better of his last films.

Candy stars as Sheriff Bud Boomer, after losing his job at a nearby weapons factory, he and Honey (Rhea Perlman) a deputy, patrol around the Niagara Falls for possible jumpers. The duo receives extra money if they jump. Meanwhile in Washington D.C., the President (Alan Alda) is at his lowest rating, so he wants to boost his image as President. He states that America needs another war, peace has been declared with Russia, and everyone else seems to like America. His advisor, Stu Smiley (Kevin Pollack) see a news broadcast where havoc ensued after Sheriff Boomer said that Canadian beer was horrible. This sparks the interest for America to be at war with Canada.

So off we go with Honey and Boomer, trying to do their part with this new terror to America, Canada. Plenty of Canadian jokes and cameos by Dan Aykroyd (Canadian born), Steven Wright, Rip Torn, James Belushi, Wallace Shawn, and even Michael Moore. Canadian Bacon takes the viewer into a possible conflict with our neighbor to the north. With the craziness of Sheriff Boomer and his band of rebels, will they create a real war with Canada, where the President just wanted attention, so he can boost his acceptance ratings with Americans. Only time will tell, aye.

 What does succeed as a good political satire, fails as a comedy? At moments it feels too preachy and the jokes just had bad timing. Moore later succeeded with political driven documentaries, and truthfully, I enjoyed it better the second go around. Back in 1995, a friend rented it, we watched and felt cheated. This was John Candy's last film and it was only mildly funny.

As time as progressed over the last 16 years, this film aged nice. It does have good jokes, good humor and it pokes fun at what Moore likes to have fun with; Corporate America, George Bush, political propaganda, etc. It just doesn't flow nicely, it trips over itself, becomes jumbled and takes itself too seriously. (The political preachy-ness) Even though, it was a flop, Moore did take it hard, but has rallied back with a two Oscar nominations in Documentary and even a win for "Bowling for Columbine." He does have a gift, I hope he does come back for another go at fiction film making. Contradictions, indeed, watch this film, that's how it left me, with contradictions.


Starring: John Candy, Alan Alda, Rhea Perlman and Kevin Pollack
Directed by: Michael Moore
Budget/Gross: $11,000,000 (estimated)/ $178,104
IMDB Rating: 5.7/10
Tomatometer: 14% critics and 49% audience liked it