“Will & Harper” is like “Tommy Boy” meets “Boys Don’t Cry”.
And a lot more.
If you’re familiar with the legendary Jimmy Valvano, the coach who beat the odds at NC State and later, in the face of cancer, gave the speech of a lifetime, you know he left us with three essential daily tasks:
Laugh, Think, and Cry.
Valvano called this the trifecta of life—a “heck of a day,” as he put it (right before he died).
Well, I didn’t expect it, but “Will & Harper” nailed the trifecta for me, and then some (in just 114 minutes).
I laughed. I thought. I cried.
It was a heck of a day and I hope you enjoy it too.
ps: Thanks to Emily Bear and Liv Moore from Netflix for the early screening. And thx to my best friend Dave Bear for the rest. 🙂
Trailer for “Will & Harper”
Watch “Will & Harper”
You can watch “Will & Harper” on Netflix at https://www.netflix.com/title/81760197
Ratings:
- My Rating: 95/100
- IMDB Rating: 6.8/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Ratings: 81/100 (Users); 99/100 (Critics)
Release Date: September 21, 2024 (in a few theaters); September 27, 2024 (on Netflix
My Review of “Will & Harper”
Two best friends hit the road from New York to California, navigating life, identity, and one seriously awkward Texas BBQ stop.
Along the way, they face more than just miles—they take on public stares, tough conversations, and moments of unexpected kindness.
“Will & Harper” is a wild ride through the ups and downs of Harper Steele’s transition, and it’s held together by the kind of friendship that’s hard to come by.
Will Ferrell—yeah, that Will Ferrell—delivers not as a clown (at least not for a bit) but as Harper’s rock-solid support system.
And man, does she need it.
Friendship Through Thick and Thin
At its core, this doc is about friendship.
Will Ferrell and Harper Steele have been best friends for years, and now Harper’s facing the biggest change of her life: transitioning (she was formerly Andrew Steele and worked with Will at SNL and on big movies.
But what’s special here isn’t just Harper’s bravery—it’s how Will sticks by her through all of it.
From awkward stares in public places to getting roasted on social media after a Pacers game, Will’s there, figuring it out, fumbling through the right words, but always showing up.
That’s what makes “Will & Harper” hit home.
We all have that friend who might not have all the answers, but they’re still standing beside you when it counts.
Watching Will support Harper is like watching your best friend trying their absolute best not to mess up, and even when they do, it’s still kind of heartwarming.
The Darker Side of Humanity
Harper and Will walk into a steakhouse in Texas (sounds like the start of a joke, right?), and things get real ugly.
I wasn’t there so I can’t vouch for what happened. But this is the most uncomfortable scene in the film (you feel the strange staring…the hostility).
After that, they get lit up on social media by locals with words I don’t even want to write here cuz they’re such a bummer.
The Kind Side of Humanity
In Oklahoma, they hit a local dive bar and Harper asks Will to stay outside so she can brave a public foreign place on her own.
That’s the most stressed I was in the doc.
Will waits outside.
But they survive and the folks in the bar are fantastically friendly.
Later in Oaklahoma they hit a dirt track race and the attendees are also welcoming.
Raising Awareness Without Shouting
The beauty of this doc is that it’s not trying to be a lecture.
Sure, it deals with heavy topics like body dysphoria, mental health struggles, and some brutal anti-trans discrimination, but it doesn’t beat you over the head with stats and sob stories.
It’s all about Harper’s journey, shown through her relationship with Will, and that makes it hit harder.
They’re not just throwing facts at you—they’re showing you what it’s like to walk in Harper’s shoes.
Take the moment at the Grand Canyon, where Harper and her therapist have a heart-to-heart.
The therapist confesses she used to be closed-minded about trans issues, even thought about rejecting a past patient who wanted to transition.
Fun Moments (Unicycles, Will being Will)
Just because it’s deep doesn’t mean it’s all heavy.
Ferrell’s humor sneaks in like it’s second nature.
There’s a standout moment where Harper rides her childhood unicycle through her old neighborhood.
It’s a full-circle scene—she used to ride it as a kid, and now she’s back, navigating her old world as her true self.
The tension of the moment just melts away when you see Harper, balancing on that unicycle, laughing with Will.
He’s not afraid to poke fun at himself when he’s fumbling over pronouns or asking awkward questions about Harper’s transition.
While most questions are serious, one laugh-out-loud moment is when Will asks the type of teasing/politically incorrect question I’d probaby ask my buddy if they transitioned:
Will: “Do you think you’re a worse driver as a female driver…[Will cackles and says “Woooh, Woooh, Zing”
Harper: “That’s the dumbest…fuck you…but, yeah, I am”
Awesome Soundtrack
The soundtrack’s killer.
The full soundtrack hasn’t been announced yet but here’s what I knew:
- “America” – Covered by First Aid Kit. Dreamy and reflective, it fits perfectly with the themes of identity and belonging.
- “Shelter from the Storm” (Bob Dylan) — Classic.
- “Holocene” by Bon Iver. Intimate and raw, this track amplifies Harper’s quieter moments.
- “Harper and Will Go West” – Written by Kristen Wiig and Sean Douglas. It’s folksy, fun, and performed with ukulele and saxophone.
- Original score – I think Nathan Halpern does some original scoring for this doc but I haven’t confirmed it.
Director Josh Greenbaum (“Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar”, “Becoming Bond”, and “Strays”) nails this doc. Harper and Will do too, though feels weird saying — they’re just being themselves.
“Will & Harper” Early Screening
And if you’ve never seen an early screening of a film, here’s a pic of the “Will & Harper” one. It was at Lucas Film’s headquarters in San Francisco. This is just the Q&A from after we watched the film.
From left to right is Rachel Shatto (Editor of Pride Magazine and the moderator of the Q&A), Josh Greenbaum (Director), Harper Steele and Will Ferrell .
Left to right is Awesome Documentary Director Dana Nachman, Market Research Guru Peter Schwartz and Daily Doc Creator Rob Kelly.
Thanks for reading!
Rob Kelly, Chief Maniac, Daily Doc