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Alan Alda, John Candy, Rhea Perlman, Kevin Pollak, Rip Torn ... see more see more... , Bill Nunn , Beth Amos , Stanley Anderson , Michael Copeman , Richard Council , Fab Filippo , Bruce Hunter , Kevin J. O'Connor , Wallace Shawn , Brad Sullivan , Steven Wright , Dan Aykroyd , James Belushi , Michael Moore , G.D. Spradlin , Kenner Ames , Matt Cooke , Sheila Gray , Carlton Watson , Dana Brooks , Roger Dunn , Stan Coles , Jack Mather , Michael Woods

In Michael Moore's political satire, the U.S. president (Alan Alda) decides to wage a cold war against Canada in an attempt to reverse his slipping popularity, and, as a result, he drives a small grou... read more read more...p of incensed Canadians to take matters into their own hands. Alda is the first president in years not to lead his country into war, which naturally means that his approval rating is dangerously low. The sure-fire way to boost his popularity is to start a war and demonstrate American superiority. Unfortunately, as his advisors point out, the U.S. has run out of enemies. That is, until Alda's National Security Advisor Stuart Smiley (Kevin Pollak) happens to catch a segment on the news about a brawl at a Canadian hockey game that began when local American sheriff Bud Boomer (John Candy) made a remark about Canadian beer. This incident gives Smiley the notion to make the public believe that Canada is their new enemy. Determined to demonstrate the mighty power of America to the Canadians, Boomer gets a group of equally angry fellow Americans together to cross the border and perform the most serious of all Canadian crimes -- littering. However, the invasion is foiled and Boomer's numerous blunders threaten to turn a fabricated war into a real one. Written, directed, and produced by Michael Moore, Canadian Bacon takes lighthearted jabs at the differences between the U.S. and Canada, while also satirizing America's obsession with its military strength. The film features John Candy in his last complete screen performance. ~ Don Kaye, Rovi

Flixster Users

48% liked it

33,628 ratings

Critics

14% liked it

14 critics

R, 1 hr. 35 min.

Directed by: Michael Moore

Release Date: September 22, 1995

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DVD Release Date: May 22, 2001

Stats: 1,033 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (1,033)

  • phubbs1
    August 13, 2011
    phubbs1
    Very clever and very amusing comedy staring yet not centred around John Candy, this is more of a vehicle for many good character actors including Alan Alda, Rip Torn, Dan Aykroyd, Kevin Pollak and G.D. Spradlin.

    The US President is losing in the approval ratings so on advice fro... read morem his yes men he invents a war between the US and Canada, that is the plot and its brilliant. Michael Moore writes, directs and cameos in his film which is far better than you would think despite it vanishing into obscurity after release.

    A minor political satire mixed with black comedy and outright stupidity added with some great performances which really send up the US government, Alda and Torn in the war room together are brilliant, there is also quite abit of influence here from other classic films. One such scene where Dan Aykroyd as a Canadian policeman pulls Candy over in his truck pointing out that the graffiti on the side of his truck must be in French as well as English for all French speaking Canadians which bares a very close similarity to the classic scene in 'Monty Python's Life of Brian' where the Roman centurion orders Brian to spell check his graffiti he had scrawled all over the Roman walls.

    Great little gem :)
  • TheDudeLebowski65
    May 31, 2011
    TheDudeLebowski65
    Canadian Bacon is a very underrated comedy. Directed by documentary filmmaker Michael Moore, Canadian Bacon tells the story of an unpopular U.S President trying to gain popularity in the polls by trying to start a new cold war with Canada! As a Canadian I found this to be a very ... read morefunny film filled with the usual stereotypes. Michael Moore's script is witty and original. The cast headed by John Candy (in his last role) are all terrific. Each bring something to the screen which makes Canadian Bacon an above average comedy. This is a very clever comedy with political overtones and it works. John Candy is terrific in last performance. I though he brought on big laughs here as a dimwitted American Sheriff. The only thing that really sucks about this film is that it's Candy's last. Canadian Bacon is an original comedy with plenty of laughs that shouldn't be overlooked. Unfortunately it has, and it unfair because Canadian Bacon despite not being a flawless film is really a lot of fun to watch. If you're Canadian like me, you'll understand it's humour a lot more. Most people that this film a bad review seem to miss the point of this entirely. Oh well. Canadian Bacon is a well written, acted and surprisingly accomplished film by Michael Moore. The film may not appeal to everyone, but to those who enjoy such humour, you're in for a treat. This film is a definite comedy classic (for me at least).
  • FilmFanatik
    February 22, 2011
    FilmFanatik
    I'm very fond of this. To me, it's a comfort food kind of movie. A very simple plot with lots of great comedic actors, a great script full of some fantastic one-liners and just an all around accessible story. It's not instantly relatable or anything, but the characters are a l... read moreot of fun. It's actually a movie that should've been made in the 80's but somehow got made in the 90's. It's got that kind of feel to it, especially with all of the cold war and nuclear missile talk being thrown around in it. I can't say for certain that Matt Stone and Trey Parker just flat out ripped this movie off because there are definitely some strong parallels between it and South Park and lots of visuals and lines that are very much the same in both productions, but I'll leave the speculation to those who love to speculate. I, meanwhile, will just enjoy a simple comedy with a mix of slapstick and sophisticated humor.
  • SirPant
    September 30, 2009
    SirPant
    Very clever comedy, it?s funny cos it true! Moore (see what I did there) like this please! RIP Mr. Candy, you are missed!
  • YosemiteSamFan
    August 3, 2007
    YosemiteSamFan
    A junk-box of a movie. It all feels cheap. The scenes in the CN-Tower were alright. The dull script didn't let John Candy be his usual funny self. SCTV is much better than this thing.
  • superclerk25
    January 31, 2007
    superclerk25
    Sucky way to end a career.
  • whosinthenews
    March 12, 2011
    whosinthenews
    Preachy, goofy, hackneyed, hamfisted, socio-political morality play thinly veiled under the guise of a Chris Farley-style comedic romp.
    Too boring and unfunny to be an effective satire, and too outlandish and simple minded to generate any real empathy for the average American. B... read moreasically a convoluted, unnecessary re-imagining of Dr. Strangelove.
  • trisarahtops22
    November 16, 2008
    trisarahtops22
    A great satire on the American government's need for a boogeyman to keep the pulic in line and to pump billions of dollars to the defense industry. The cast was excellent and funny as well.
  • ileo
    December 25, 2007
    ileo
    Hilarious!
  • stormcrowdark
    January 14, 2007
    stormcrowdark
    Once again the eternal struggle between Canadians and Americans is examined this time in comedy form.

View All Canadian Bacon Reviews

Critic Reviews

Mike Clark
January 1, 2000
Mike Clark, USA Today

The best thing you can say about this scattershot political satire is that the late John Candy's next-to-last picture is relatively funnier and less depressing than his valedictory Wagons East.

Rob Vaux
August 29, 2005
Rob Vaux, Flipside Movie Emporium

Moore's agit-prop is mildly amusing, but far too preachy to hold water.

Emanuel Levy
July 3, 2005
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

Moore's only non-docu is a misfire, a diffuse, unfunny political satire that only John Candy's most avid fans might enjoy. Full Review

Sarah Chauncey
June 8, 2004
Sarah Chauncey, Reel.com

Falls entirely short of its potential

Ryan Cracknell
August 18, 2003
Ryan Cracknell, Movie Views

Let's leave the poking fun at Canadians to those who do it best - Canadians. Full Review

Larry Carroll
February 7, 2003
Larry Carroll, Countingdown.com

A funny, underrated little gem that doesn't say much for Michael Moore as a fictional director, but does showcase his talents as a writer. The last decent John Candy film.

Nell Minow
August 1, 2002
Nell Minow, Movie Mom at Yahoo! Movies

A dreadful waste of top talent.

Scott Weinberg
July 25, 2002
Scott Weinberg, eFilmCritic.com

Wow. Just wow. Moore should stick to the "non-fiction" world.

Michael W. Phillips, Jr.
February 28, 2002
Michael W. Phillips, Jr., Goatdog's Movies

Funny often enough to make it worth watching. Full Review

Leonard Klady
October 18, 2008
Leonard Klady, Variety

Click to read the article Full Review

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  • What movie did John Candy have to try to save his friend Honey?  Answer »
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  • What controversial man directed Canadian Bacon?  Answer »
  • in what movie did john candy star in, in 1995 with rhea perlman, alan aldo,kevin pollack and steven wright?  Answer »
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