Will & Harper (2024), now streaming on Netflix, is an intimate and heartfelt documentary directed by Josh Greenbaum. It chronicles a deeply personal road trip between comedian Will Ferrell and his longtime friend, Harper Steele, who recently came out as a trans woman. The film captures their transformative journey of self-discovery, friendship, and acceptance as they travel across the U.S., visiting meaningful stops that have shaped their individual experiences. This marks the first time they’ve embarked on such a trip together, with both exploring how their decades-long friendship adapts to this new chapter in Harper’s life.
Set against the backdrop of a 16-day road trip from New York to Los Angeles, Will & Harper offers much more than a lighthearted buddy adventure. The duo retraces Harper’s steps across locations that hold deep meaning for her, places she visited before transitioning and living authentically. This trip is not just a physical journey for Harper, but an emotional one, as she revisits these places for the first time as her true self—and now, alongside her closest friend. The contrast between her past travels, which she undertook alone, and this joint venture with Will highlights the personal growth and acceptance Harper has found.
The film is infused with humor, much of it coming from Ferrell’s spontaneous antics and their hilarious back-and-forth banter, from silly jokes to amusing debates over snacks like Pringles. However, Will & Harper doesn’t shy away from deeper themes. The documentary poignantly addresses the struggles Harper has faced as a trans woman, touching on the emotional challenges of traveling those same roads before her transition. These reflective moments bring an essential, eye-opening perspective, offering viewers a glimpse into the complexities and vulnerabilities of the trans experience.
What elevates Will & Harper is how it showcases not just Harper’s journey of self-acceptance but Will’s as well. This trip marks the first time Will sees Harper in a new light, and his vulnerability and willingness to understand what Harper has gone through are beautifully captured. As they share laughs, tears, and candid conversations, the documentary becomes a testament to the enduring power of friendship and its capacity to grow through life’s biggest changes.
With its balance of humor and raw emotion, Will & Harper is a compelling and memorable documentary. While it introduces Harper to the world as her true self, it also sheds light on the complexities of navigating long-term friendships through profound personal transformation. Fans of Ferrell will enjoy the laughs, but the heartfelt moments will leave a lasting impression, making Will & Harper a pleasurable story about friendship, identity, and the power of human connection.