Film Review: ‘Will & Harper’ is a Beautiful Tribute to Acceptance, Friendship, and Inclusion

Will Ferrell loves Harper Steele. Watch even just a few minutes of the documentary Will & Harper and that becomes clear. This film is a testament to friendship and acceptance that we need in this world right now. Ferrell’s friendship with Steele spans decades, prior to the latter’s transition, as well as now in the aftermath of coming out. That they decided to chronicle this new chapter in a cross country road trip makes for an often hilarious, gently powerful, and always moving movie. I loved it wholeheartedly and find it not just to be the best doc of the year so far, but among the very best flicks of 2024 overall.

Will & Harper is the type of documentary that has the potential to literally save lives. Ferrell has a global audience with all sorts of political views. Watching his lack of judgment and full on embrace of his friend, acknowledging both how she’s different and the same, is hugely important. Its mere existence is going to do good in the world. However, don’t get me wrong, while this depiction of inclusion is essential viewing, it’s also one of the funniest works of the year.

Will Ferrell and Harper Steele have been friends for 30 years, going back to when Ferrell joined the Saturday Night Live cast while Steel was a staff writer. When the latter writes the former, as well as several other SNL cast members, letters to reveal that they’re transitioning to life as a woman, there are lots of questions. COVID kept them apart for a while, so they haven’t really had a chance to be in person for years. So, an idea forms.

Will and Harper decide to drive across America, having the conversation so many in the country are also having. Stopping at some iconic spots, seeing old friends, as well as relatives, the pair cry and laugh in equal measure. Whether it’s haranguing Kristin Wiig into writing their road trip a theme song, enterting into potentially unfriendly territory, or just discovering new sides to each other, the friends discover just how much they really love each other, while we fall in love with them.

Watching Will Ferrell and Harper Steele interact, it’s like watching a road trip buddy comedy at times, albeit with an emotional undercurrent most don’t possess. Ferrell has an incredibly relatable desire to do right by his friend, while not shying away from the occasionally messy nature of the conversations. Steele is a complex figure and not suddenly flawless, so when they go on riffs, both serious and funny, you’re fully engaged. Likewise, all of their SNL cohorts are clearly honored to be involved and able to support Steele. A special citation goes out to Wiig, who contributes a lovely song that deserves Oscar consideration in Best Original Song.

Director Josh Greenbaum never gets in the way of this story, letting it play out in a realistic and emotionally satisfying fashion. With a background in both comedy (Barb and Star Go To Vista Del Mar and Strays, for example), as well as documentaries (like Becoming Bond), Greenbaum has a unique feel for the material. As such, the doc plays like a road trip comedy, which makes it all the move enjoyable, never negating how moving it all is. Figuring out which heart to heart conversations to keep, as well as which bits from Ferrell and Steele to keep, that is yeoman’s work. The fact that he pulled it off so well is worthy of serious kudos.

Will & Harper blew me away. Much like Wiig’s song over the end credits (which, again, deserves to be nominated), “a friend is a friend is a friend, til the end.” I now love Harper Steele, as well as possess a whole new level of admiration for Will Ferrell. This documentary is entertaining, important, and one of the year’s best. When it comes to Netflix this weekend, you owe it to yourself to check it out!

SCORE: ★★★1/2