Will & Harper

Back when he joined SNL in 1995, Will Ferrell bonded with writer Andrew Steele, initially over their similar comic sensibility, but branching out into meeting in dive bars in costume and attending Lakers’ games.  After being separated by the pandemic for the longest period of not seeing each other, Will received a startling email from his old friend, explaining that he had transitioned and finally was happy in her own skin.  Will was immediately supportive, but had questions and suggested they do something together Steele had often done solo – take a cross country trip to introduce America to “Will & Harper.”

Laura's Review: A-

Now here’s a documentary that not only celebrates a sincerely beautiful friendship, but should help correct the current anti-trans sentiment being pushed in conservative politics with its powerfully empathetic portrayal.  As we witness Harper in her Staatsburg, NY home describing how packing for this trip is so much more complex than the old days, especially when it comes to shoes, Will is wondering if she still likes the shitty beer she made him promote or if ‘she’s totally into wine now.’  (Later he’ll ask Harper if she’s a worse driver now that she’s a woman – these two can’t stop with the funny, but it also generally leads into more meaningful conversation.)

Ferrell flies out to NYC, Face Timing along the way that he’s been delayed for having been thrown off a flight for getting a little too wise with an attendant by offering to assist the pilot during turbulence.  They’ll meet outside a golf course, then hit old haunts like Rockefeller Plaza where they enjoy a group hug with Lorne Michaels and then have drinks with Tina Fey, Garrett Morris, Colin Jost, Seth Meyers and Paula Pell.  The next morning, they join Steele’s two adult daughters for breakfast at a favored greasy spoon where Ferrell makes a show of ordering tzatziki and we learn the girls are very accepting of dad’s decision and still call her ‘Pop.’

It’s surprising how often Ferrell goes unrecognized during their 16 days on the road, but that is not the case when the duo stop in Indiana for a Pacers game as he hits center court to lead cheers (but gets cut from the Jumbotron just as he introduces Harper, noting her transition).  Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb walks up for an introduction and Ferrell is distraught when he later learns about the anti-trans bills the man passed.  ‘That must happen to you a lot,’ Harper notes, ‘the photo you don’t want to be in,’ giving us a perspective on accusatory click bait articles.

Harper is such a warm, down-to-earth individual, her white hair messily piled on top of her head with a clip like one of your aunties, that it is easy to accept her right out of the gate.   Unfortunately, she’s misgendered multiple times, something Ferrell gets better dealing with as they go along.  And it is often surprising just where she’s accepted, from a biker dive bar where Confederate and ‘F Biden’ flags hang to a stock car race in Oklahoma where she tells a man with a young son about her fears and he simply encourages, saying if she enjoys the sport, she should be there.  The ickiest response comes when Ferrell, dressed as Sherlock Holmes, attempts to win a free 72 oz. steak in Texas by eating it within an hour, drawing a crowd of onlookers.  Editor Monique Zavistovski plasters the screen with these other customers’ tweets, vicious critiques of both Will and Harper.  It’s painful to see after spending time with such loving people.

Will queries Harper’s process for choosing her new name (she was originally going with Angie, but thought it sounded like ‘wet cardboard.’  Remembering that her mom went to school with ‘’To Kill a Mockingbird’ author Harper Lee, she tries out that name and has a visceral reaction).  Harper insists they are so close there are no boundaries at all and when Will goes there about surgeries, Harper gives a thoughtful answer about being undecided on the ‘lower’ kind.  Being 61, her love life isn’t all that active to consider something that drastic, but there would also be the satisfaction of seeing her own mental image of herself in the mirror.

The film has some great running gags, including the pair’s fascination with the new Scorchin’ line of Pringles, first consumed in folding chairs in a Walmart parking lot (I envision the Netflix swag coming already) and a call to Kristen Wiig requesting she create their theme song, stipulating that it be uptempo jazz with a little country twang that puts a tear in your eye, then fail to reach her when they leave ‘no pressure’ follow-up voicemails (you will be treated to it, performed by Wiig, over the closing credits and it could be a Best Song contender – Netflix is submitting it).

Director Josh Greenbaum (“Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar”) alternates between interior shots of the duo driving and voiceovers of their conversation combined with exterior shots of the car when cinematographer Zoë White isn’t following them on their exploits.  A twangy Western score gives way to an eclectic soundtrack selection ranging from Elton John, The Band and Dylan to Mazzy Star.  “Will & Harper” is a big warm hug of a documentary set against a background tapestry of these United States.

Robin's Review: B+

Will Ferrell and comedy writer Andy Steele have been friends for 30 years, since their days at SNL. In recent years, Andrew has changed gender and she and Will decide to take a road trip “to past places as a new person” in “Will & Harper.”

This “road trip flick” starts with Will Ferrell declaring to the camera, “I am one of the greatest actors in the world.” This sets the humorous tone of the film but not one that makes light of the story of Andrew becoming Harper.
As expected with a comic actor and comedy writer hitting the road together, there is a lot of good natured bantering – like when Will asks Harper if she became a worse driver after she changed. But there is serious stuff here, too, with Harper revisiting all the old places as a different person. Surprisingly, in many of the places they stop – in decidedly red states – Harper is accepted and feels welcome, except for Texas.

As expected, there is a lot of discussion, on both sides, about Harper’s life altering decision. Why she made it, what it is like being a woman, does she still have all of her parts are all being yakked about in an effective serio-comic way.

There is a lot of good-natured humor and bantering on display here, but there is also honest affection between two good friends. Has the relationship between them changed? Of course, is the simple answer, but their friendship of 30 years remains strong. And, the trip was a necessary catharsis for Harper.

Netflix releases "Will & Harper" in select theaters on 9/6/24.  It will begin streaming on the platform on 9/26.24.