On screen, John Candy was often the gregarious life of the party. He smoked and drank through a game of racquetball in “Splash,” he charmed a household of unruly kids with his free-spirited ways in “Uncle Buck” and annoyed the living hell of Steve Martin with his constant stream of chatter in “Planes, Trains and Automobiles.” But “ John Candy: I Like Me ,” a new documentary about his life and career that kicks off the opening night of the Toronto Intl. Film Festival, shows the private turmoil behind the comedian’s affable facade.

“There were real, serious, traumatic experiences that formed John and made him who he was,” says Colin Hanks , the film’s director. “He was an incredible human being and a kind, loving, generous spirit. But all of those qualities were coping mechanisms for a

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