As a longtime fan who has followed Will Ferrell‘s career since his early days at SNL, I must say that “Will & Harper” is a documentary that truly warms my heart. Watching this film feels like eavesdropping on a heartfelt conversation between two old friends as they embark on a cross-country road trip. The bond between Will and Harper, forged over three decades, shines through every frame of the movie.
Will Ferrell and his longtime friend, Harper Steele (a former head writer at Saturday Night Live who publicly transitioned in 2021), eventually decided to embark on a cross-country road trip for the documentary “Will & Harper.” This decision came after many months of debating whether or not to share their personal lives on camera.
In simpler terms, Steele shared with The Hollywood Reporter at the film’s L.A. premiere that there are numerous bills concerning transgender individuals being proposed in different states. While he doesn’t want to come off as a politician or selfless, he feels these laws still appear somewhat limiting and potentially grim for trans people. He isn’t sure if this movie will sway opinions, but they felt compelled to make a difference with their lives, and they believed this project could be helpful.
For three decades, the duo have remained friends since they both began at SNL in the same week. Three years ago, Steele penned an email to Ferrell informing her that she was embarking on a journey to live life as a woman. Given that she had spent most of her adult life traversing the country, they decided to go on a joint 16-day road trip from New York to L.A., helping them both navigate this new phase in their friendship.
Director Josh Greenbaum shared that Harper frequently embarks on long road trips across the country, but hadn’t done so since her transition. This made Harper feel sad because she wasn’t certain about her safety. Will then proposed a solution: he would fly to New York and accompany Harper on her first cross-country trip as herself.
Will Ferrell and Harper Steele arrive at the premiere of their Netflix doc “Will & Harper”
— The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) September 20, 2024
Throughout this year, the film has visited Sundance, Telluride, and TIFF, garnering numerous accolades. The response from the trans community, as Ferrell noted, has left us speechless. We’re a bit taken aback by it all. As comedians who sometimes struggle with self-doubt, to see this project resonate on so many levels, be genuinely funny, and receive admiration from people we care about and respect, it’s been nothing short of extraordinary.
Regarding its potential influence on the comedy world, which hasn’t always been the most welcoming towards trans individuals, Steele remarked, “You can’t dictate the comedy world…it’s inherently chaotic and it will constantly clash with itself, as it has since its inception.” Greenbaum further explained, “Comedy mirrors society and society evolves. So it might take some time for comedy to follow suit, but it eventually will.
As a gamer speaking about this film, I’m excited that it’s coming out at this time. Greenbaum also highlighted his hope that the movie removes trans issues from the political limelight because it’s deeply human and personal, revolving around two friends. He believes one of the problems is that many people don’t personally know a trans person, with statistics suggesting 70% or more fall into this category. This means they get their information about trans issues primarily from politicians or media outlets. Instead of allowing these sources to dictate the story and narrative, he encourages us to share our own stories and experiences.
He went on to say, “If you haven’t met a transgender individual before, after watching this movie, you’ll come to know Harper, and she is exceptional.
Will & Harper starts streaming on Netflix on Sept. 27.
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2024-09-20 22:25