WILL & HARPER
Starring: Will Ferrell and Harper Steele
Director: Josh Greenbaum
ADRIANO
Will & Harper is the best Will Ferrell comedy I've seen in some time, featuring the laugh-out-loud moments that have been missing in the comedian’s most recent outings. Will & Harper is much more than laughter, though. For a documentary, the movie is very cinematic, and the core friendship at the heart of the film will make anyone smile. With its mature discussions and examination of post-transition life, this is a road movie that could be seen as necessary viewing. You'll laugh a lot, but when all is said and done, you may even cry.
KATIE
Will & Harper is a hopeful film highlighting the importance of approaching unfamiliar situations with open-mindedness and understanding. The documentary doesn’t try to convince the viewer to align with a particular viewpoint, with the focus remaining on the heartwarming friendship between Will Ferrell and Harper Steele, as well as Steele's personal experiences. In this sense, Will & Harper is free of the pressures that the media places on a lot of transgender people, who are expected to act as representatives for their entire community, which allows space for Ferrell to ask awkward questions and make mistakes as he reacquaints himself with Harper.
QUENTIN
Will & Harper is a charming road-trip documentary that explores friendship, acceptance, and the adjustment period that inherently occurs after a person transitions, both for the one making the transition and the people around them. For some, particularly those who have never been exposed to a trans person, this almost should be considered necessary viewing as it gets to the humanity of the situation. On the other hand, for a person like me, who has several close LGBTQ+ friends (including some who have transitioned), I’ve had many of the conversations depicted in the film, which results in a movie that is touching but not exactly enlightening.
This film was reviewed by Adriano as part of Bitesize Breakdown's coverage of the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival.