Alternate Best Supporting Actor 1984: John Candy in Splash

John Candy did not receive an Oscar nomination for portraying Freddie Bauer in Splash.

Splash, finally watching from beginning to end, I found to be kind of a terrible romantic comedy with a curiously unappealing central performance by Tom Hanks, but there was one thing I liked.

Well obviously I'm talking about the gone too soon John Candy, who was sadly not properly appreciated in his time. It's a shame since his ability is so evident in a film this where he plays the brother to Tom Hanks's Allen. Candy's whole agenda in the film seems to be to make better any way he can whenever he is onscreen. Candy's Freddie is this strange lothario of sorts right down to his pseudo playboy attire. The last time I covered a Candy performance it was as the more lovable though luckless salesman in Planes, Trains & Automobiles. This role actually depends a different sort of angle for Candy to go off of, and Candy is more than up to the task. His style here is indulgent in the right way fitting to a guy who just goes about loving his life and living in his own sort of way which is great foil against old the oddly unpleasant Allen who somehow can even seem to enjoy life when he's with a sexy mermaid. Where Hanks is being always so down Candy is the perfect antidote that just seems to brighten every frame as the cheeky Freddie.

Anyway there really is not enough Candy to go around in this film, but when Candy appears it is highlight, in fact just the scenes with Candy simply are the good scenes of the film. Candy does his best to pick up the slack of Hanks's performance at every turn. One of his most enjoyable scenes is early on as they are going about Allen's business together and Freddie is hanging around delivering one liners about either Allen's misfortunes or his useless employees. Well Candy knocks these out of the park really with his madcap delivery. He goes even further though with the madness he inflicts in every scene of his madness that can come from any direction whether it is as he bursts out laughing so suddenly, or so many of his quietly judgemental reactions that are most often hilarious. Candy tries to make a bit work even when other facts are not working such as again Hanks is oddly misguided turn. Candy fulfills the role of the best friend, which is a mainstay of the romantic comedy. This is terrific example of that trope as Candy does provide all that these types of roles need. He importantly does bring the support needed. In that he has the right earnest warmth in his scenes where he encourages Allen, like the kind older brother. I love the slight twist in Candy's demeanor though in there are moments where he goes almost like a drill Sergeant that still serves the purpose of support though in the form of a much tough love, of course it also results in him being quite amusing at the same time. The focus is of course is that comedy which Candy is on point every second he's onscreen with his infectious energy. I hate that the film almost seems to waste him, as he's absent for a large chunk of the film, and we barely get a proper sendoff for Freddie. Nevertheless Candy, while he can't save the film due to lack of screentime, is the one who delivers any of the enjoyment the film has to offer.