[Editor’s note: This interview was originally published on September 4, 2025 and has been lightly updated for the film‘s streaming release on Friday, October 10.]
On the floor, sure, the thought of creating a documentary on the lifetime of John Sweet looks as if a fairly nice thought — I imply, who doesn’t love John Sweet? — however as director Colin Hanks factors out, effectively, wait, not so quick.
Now, let’s shortly be aware that Colin Hanks would know what he’s speaking about as a result of he, actually, did make a documentary in regards to the lifetime of John Sweet. And the issue that introduced itself was, sure, everybody does love John Sweet. As a lot as this can be a man whose life needs to be celebrated, watching his family and friends speak about how nice he’s doesn’t essentially make a riveting narrative for a movie.
What Hanks deftly does along with his “John Sweet: I Like Me” is body his movie round Sweet’s anxiousness about his personal mortality. John Sweet’s father died from a coronary heart assault when Sweet was solely 5, so he lived with the notion and mindset that he was presumably dwelling on borrowed time — one thing that, sadly, got here to fruition in 1994. (It’s frankly stunning to assume John Sweet has now been gone for over 30 years. Much more stunning, Sweet’s “Uncle Buck” costar Macaulay Culkin seems as a speaking head on this movie and reminds the viewer he’s now older than Sweet was when Sweet handed.)
Forward, Hanks takes us via the method of crafting a movie based mostly on a larger-than-life public determine who nonetheless means a lot to so many individuals. And why he virtually didn’t make the movie due to his personal private historical past with Sweet, who he had met on the set of his father Tom Hanks’ movie, “Splash.” It was a historical past that was so particular to Hanks that, possibly, it was finest to simply keep in mind him as he already did.
Clearly — and fortunately — Hanks determined in any other case, and his movie will open this yr’s Toronto Worldwide Movie Pageant on Thursday night time.
The next interview has been edited and condensed for readability and size.
IndieWire: I had by no means seen “Yellowbelly.” It’s at the least tied with the toughest I’ve laughed watching a film this yr.
Colin Hanks: Proper? Conan O’Brien instructed me that story on the podcast, and I used to be like, “Oh, I’m going to should examine that out.” After which it wasn’t till we spoke with him for the movie that we have been capable of observe the sketch down, and I laughed so arduous. Conan says it, the truth that that’s such an Oppenheimer second for Conan, who’s somebody that I simply admire a lot. I’m so glad {that a} sketch from all the way in which again then that John was in is likely one of the hardest occasions you’ve laughed in a film this yr. That brings me a lot pleasure.
That is your third documentary. How lengthy have you ever wished to make this one particularly?
After your first one, you’ve gotten your listing of those that you simply actually hope in the future that you simply’re going to make, and then you definitely discover out you don’t fairly have the foreign money but to make that one. The reality of the matter is everybody universally will say like, “insert individual’s identify,” and so they’ll be like, “Oh, somebody ought to make a documentary about him.” And I all the time go, “OK, however what’s the movie? What’s the story that you simply’re truly actually making an attempt to inform? What’s it saying?” As a result of, in any other case, I don’t wish to simply do a visible Wikipedia entry.
And also you tackle it with Invoice Murray initially when he’s struggling to say something detrimental about John Sweet.
Precisely. Ultimately, I acquired an e-mail saying, “Hey, Ryan Reynolds desires to get in contact with you.” And so, he and I hopped on the telephone, and we began speaking. I already knew that Ryan was an enormous John Sweet fan, and he was similar to, “I believe there needs to be a documentary. I believe you need to direct it.” And that was after I actually began to do the due diligence, and after I talked with Ryan, he had talked about that Chris and Jen Sweet have been concerned. So, I acquired in contact with them — and I’d identified them via social circles for fairly a while.
As soon as I discovered that John handed from the very factor that his father had handed away from? I’m 47. My mother handed when she was 49. John’s dad handed at 35. And John handed at 43. I began actually taking a deep dive into my life in my late thirties, early forties. And actually sifting via, like, childhood trauma, as a result of everybody has it. That was the launching level for me.
It was actually a form of silly, primary strategy, however whenever you consider chubby actors who died younger, those you consider all died of drug overdoses. So, “Wait, John died of a coronary heart assault? His dad died of a coronary heart assault when he was 5?” It simply turned a lot extra private, simply because I’m coming to the age that my mother was when she handed away, and that actually places rather a lot into focus. And so, to seek out out, after a lot, way more digging, that John actually had that sense that he was dwelling on borrowed time, and that he wasn’t certain if he was going to stay previous 35.
That’s a very fascinating level. John Belushi and Chris Farley each died of drug overdoses at 33 and there’s this eternal legend about them. John Sweet doesn’t have that, despite the fact that he additionally died younger.
Nicely, welcome to the artistic course of that I used to be going via. That was a part of the preliminary, “Nicely, why is that? What’s that?” And one of many issues that I landed on was that John is so beloved by so many individuals, due to his everyman qualities. Everybody checked out him, and simply went, “That man. I like that man. I wish to spend time with him.” And he had that very salt of the Earth, blue collar — you simply wished to be with him.
What was your first introduction to John Sweet as a child? And I do know the apparent reply might be “Splash,” however I don’t wish to assume.
Nicely, technically, “Splash,” yeah, however John was somebody that my dad labored with. So, I didn’t essentially consider him as John Sweet.
Oh, I see.
I simply noticed him as like, that’s considered one of my dad’s mates. They work collectively. However, look, I’ve very, very vivid reminiscences of being on the set of “Splash.” And seeing John, and Eugene Levy, actually, and all of them working collectively. So, that was my preliminary introduction. After which, clearly, “Volunteers” was additionally a part of John being round. I’ve some very fond reminiscences of John, a few dinner events, and being at my dad and Rita [Wilson]’s wedding ceremony.
John left an impression on me whilst a child. Macaulay Culkin speaks to it within the film when Mac says, “He made you are feeling vital.” At the same time as a child, he made you are feeling like your opinion mattered, and your feelings mattered. And that’s 1,000 p.c correct, as a result of that was positively how John made me really feel. After which finally then it turns into, oh, yeah — seeing him in “Spaceballs,” or “The Nice Outside.” Like, “Yeah. That’s John. I do know that man.”
I really feel like a very fascinating perspective for you. Quite a lot of filmmakers making this movie can get the identical interviews, can get the identical footage, however you’re in an fascinating place the place he was your dad’s co-worker and met him. You have got a reminiscence of how he handled you.
Yeah. Very, very true. In truth, in an odd approach, I believe that was considered one of my preliminary causes to not do it.
Why?
Simply because, effectively, I met him, I’ve these reminiscences of him, I don’t know if I wish to dig into that. I’d a lot somewhat simply have these reminiscences versus spend nonetheless many months or years of my life now accumulating different folks’s reminiscences and going from there. However Chris and Jen [Candy] have been so adamant. I don’t wish to put phrases of their mouth, however they let it’s identified that it was their opinion that they felt like I used to be one of many solely guys that may do it. Then that simply made me go like, OK, effectively, let’s set myself apart right here and do some digging.
You talked about a movie that I’ve seen 1,000,000 occasions, “The Nice Outside”…
Sure.
I believe you probably did one thing actually poignant whenever you put that scene of him on the boat, and he’s giving his household ring to his son [Chris Young], who says, “Oh, such as you spent along with your dad out right here, and he did this for you.” And the way in which John Sweet reacts to that, “Yeah.” And I can now inform he’s actually unhappy.
However that he didn’t do this along with his dad.
Actually, I even watched it three weeks in the past, as a result of it’s on cable nonetheless nonstop. It hit me so arduous.
Look, I felt like that was one of many issues that we landed upon that ended up turning into, I believe, a little bit little bit of a duty. You don’t need it to simply be like, “After which he made this film.”
Proper.
And I do know this, as an actor: If I’m going to spend time away from my circle of relatives, and if I’m going to spend time away from my life, and, mainly, put my life on maintain to go make this film? And the way in which that motion pictures are made, mainly, you don’t have a life. You get up within the morning, you go straight to work and then you definitely go house. And then you definitely do the very same factor the following day. You’ve acquired to seek out one thing in there to make that price it. You realize?
[Laughs] Generally you simply want the cash. However you need it to be worthwhile! And when Jen Sweet was talking to that concept, that he actually did search for roles, and took roles that spoke to a selected slate that he wished to promote folks, a sure mentality, a sure approach to be, that actually made an entire lot extra sense.
With “The Nice Outside”…
What’s ostensibly only a humorous movie, “The Nice Outside”…
Proper…
To have the ability to then discover a second the place I’m watching a scene I’ve seen numerous occasions, however I’m seeing it in a totally totally different approach? That’s the sort of stuff that we actually wished to focus on. And I believe we have been capable of accomplish that with a handful of moments from his movies. However that one lands for me rather a lot. I’m truly actually, actually completely happy that you simply talked about that, that individual level. As a result of that all the time actually resonates with me.
He’s in a variety of motion pictures. How did you decide the movies to focus on? One I’m glad you probably did was “Summer time Rental.” I’m a giant fan. It’s a Carl Reiner movie. And It’s his first starring function and I believe it actually exhibits what he can do.
Nicely, right here’s the bizarre factor, there are such a lot of of John’s movies that I’ve not seen, as a result of he was in a bunch.
True.
However “Summer time Rental,” I’ve all the time considered one of many quintessential John Sweet motion pictures. And the truth that that was his first main function, it felt prefer it was actually vital. And likewise it exhibits that in his first main man function, he’s tapped by Carl Reiner.
Proper…
Who’s a legend and says, “I wish to work with this man.” And loves it a lot that then he tells his buddy, Mel Brooks, one other comedy legend, “Oh, you’ve started working with this man. You’ve acquired to satisfy this man. Not solely is he nice, he’s an excellent human being.”
You’ve made two prior documentaries. While you’re making an attempt to get folks to speak to you for this one, does that assist? Do folks say, “I do know who you might be however have you ever made a film?”
Nicely, in the event that they do, they don’t actually inform me. However there are two bonuses right here. I keep in mind Marty Quick, whom I’ve identified for a really very long time, he’s one of many very first folks I approached about, “Ought to I do that?” He was like, “Nobody goes to say no to you. They’re all going to wish to do it.” And so, that was useful, however that doesn’t essentially imply everybody is offered.
Within the movie you spent a while on his function in “Nationwide Lampoon’s Trip.” There’s all the time that story on the market the place they did reshoots for the ending, which is true, however gave John a million {dollars} to return in for his function. Is that this true? He didn’t seem to be a spot in his profession but the place that may occur.
I name this “the Invoice Simmons conspiracy,” as a result of that was the way it first got here to my consideration, listening to Invoice Simmons speaking about it sooner or later. Not that he coined it. No, I don’t consider that’s true. In truth, I talked about it with Chris, and I don’t assume that’s true. I believe, logistically, that doesn’t make a lot sense.
It doesn’t.
Should you’re doing re-shoots on a film, you’re not spending 1,000,000 {dollars} willy-nilly.
Proper, his greatest film on the time was “Stripes.” “Let’s get the fourth lead from ‘Stripes’ and simply pay him no matter he desires.”
[Laughs] No.
Now, 5 years later, that makes excellent sense.
Yeah. Precisely. Precisely.
Earlier you stated, “You say somebody’s identify, and, oh, we must always make a documentary about them.” Macaulay Culkin is superb on this. As an interviewer, I’m similar to, the stuff he’s saying to you is unimaginable. I’d watch a Macaulay Culkin documentary, as a result of that man has to have some tales.
Yeah, he does. His life is extremely well-chronicled in that approach. And it’s fascinating, Mac’s interview was a superb reminder to me of simply try to seize as a lot as you presumably can. As a result of it was late within the course of, we have been getting near the wire, and I used to be similar to, look, on the finish of the day, he was a little bit child. How a lot is he going to have the ability to categorical to us that speaks to our vital themes?
And, in fact, he truly jogged my memory of what my expertise was assembly him. It was a very, actually nice reminder to simply … You by no means know. To take a shot. Discover out. His perception was simply, truthfully, profound.
It was. I used to be riveted. The best way he overtly talks about his personal father, however then how John Sweet would come over and like, “Hey. The whole lot OK at house?” That simply says a lot about John Sweet, that he may decide up on that, even on “Uncle Buck.”
Nicely, it additionally says rather a lot about Mac. You realize what I imply?
I do.
The truth that he realizes that now. And, by the way in which, let’s additionally discuss in regards to the two actually large mind-blowing issues that he reveals is that. A, he’s now formally older than John was when he handed away
I used to be going to convey that up. And he’s now eight years older than he was when John Sweet was in “Uncle Buck.”
Wow. That’s loopy. However then his perception into John Hughes and John Sweet’s relationship. And the truth that that’s the connection you need to truly actually make. Everybody thinks it’s Molly Ringwald, or him, but it surely actually needs to be John.
However your intuition isn’t mistaken. I’m certain sooner or later he could make a documentary, however who is aware of. I’m all the time a giant proponent of … and that is one thing that was very adamant early on, simply from day one, of the Tower Information documentary, I’m not within the enterprise of ruining anybody’s life. Or making an attempt to tug somebody via components of their life that they don’t wish to undergo.
That’s what I preferred about you speaking to Macaulay Culkin, as a result of he, clearly, simply desires to speak about this.
Yeah.
A few of the stuff I’m certain might be hurtful to him, but it surely appeared like a constructive expertise? It didn’t really feel such as you have been going someplace with him that he didn’t wish to go.
What’s fascinating was, with “All Issues Should Cross,” I actually wished to make the film. It was a ardour for me, as a result of it was my first one. With “Nos Amis, the Eagles of Demise Steel” doc, I didn’t wish to make that documentary. The blokes within the band didn’t wish to make the documentary, as a result of they didn’t need what was occurring. However we knew one another, and we agreed, collectively, that we possibly don’t wish to do that, however that it’s important, not only for our therapeutic, however then for everybody else that was concerned in that [Paris] incident.
With this one, once more, it was, effectively, I don’t know if I actually wish to do it. It’s actually about Chris and Jen and Rose. Do they wish to do that? They usually have been so adamant. They usually have been so like, “We actually wish to do that, and we actually wish to have a good time…” They actually wished to have a good time their father, and actually remind folks of that. When you’ve gotten these agreements along with your topic, so that you simply’re on the identical web page primarily, and there’s no query as to what the motives are — that’s actually, actually vital.
“John Sweet: I Like Me” will premiere on the 2025 Toronto Worldwide Movie Pageant because the official Opening Evening Gala. It’ll begin streaming on Prime Video on Friday, October 10.
