"I thought to myself, Join the army. It's free. So I figured while I'm here I'll lose a few pounds"

John Candy’s words capture his signature blend of humor and self-deprecation. He reflects on his decision to join the army, jesting that its chief appeal lay in its price tag, being “free.” There’s an implied contrast here: many institutions or programs, like gyms, diets, or spas, charge fees for participation or for helping people improve themselves physically. By highlighting the army’s “free” entry, Candy playfully sidesteps more conventional, commercial self-improvement paths, teasing the idea that enlisting is both cost-effective and efficient for achieving certain goals.

The heart of the joke lies in his hope or expectation that the military experience will help him “lose a few pounds.” This line delivers more than just a punchline, it hints toward the common perception of army life as physically rigorous, filled with discipline, exercise, and lean living. The humor comes from juxtaposing this with Candy’s everyman persona, especially given that he was a larger man known for roles that often poked fun at his size. Rather than considering the military’s culture, values, or its deeper sense of duty, he focuses on the practical personal benefit: weight loss. It downplays serious motivation, adopting an affable, relatable perspective on self-improvement.

Yet, underneath the jest, there’s a relatable undertone: many people seek out new challenges or institutions as a means of transforming themselves, sometimes motivated as much by personal desires (like losing weight) as by devotion or patriotism. Candy’s delivery makes light of this, wrapping honesty about personal insecurities and aspirations in a comedic shell. The humor is self-effacing and taps into a universal desire to change ourselves using whatever circumstances life offers, even something as significant as military service. Ultimately, Candy takes what could be an intimidating or daunting scenario and reframes it into a personal and approachable narrative, reminding audiences of the lighter side of human motivation.