Wow!

I watched Will & Harper Monday night with my brother and sister-in-law, and we all enjoyed the movie.

Rotten Tomatoes give it a 4.6!

And some of the comments are amazing!

*****
If you haven't watched the Will and Harper documentary, stop what you're doing and check it out now! I'm literally watching it as I type this, and wow—I'm completely hooked! I've always been a huge fan of Will Ferrell's work (who isn't?!), but what I didn’t realize was how deep and special his relationship with Harper is. Watching this has given me a whole new level of respect for him—seriously, my admiration just shot through the roof!

This documentary is so beautifully done. It goes beyond just answering questions—it really humanizes the transgender experience in a way that hits home. Did you know that around 1.6 million people in the U.S. identify as transgender? And each year, thousands find the courage to come out, showing the world their authentic selves. It's an amazing journey to witness, and this film captures that bravery perfectly.

As Will Ferrell once said: "You're a real hero if you can make someone laugh in a tough time." And let me tell you, this documentary made me laugh, cry, and everything in between! If you’re looking to really understand the trans movement and want a heartfelt story, this is it. Get ready to be inspired!

*****

This film is tender, hilarious, sad, hopeful, completely honest, beautifully filmed, and brilliant, with a great sound track to boot.  At first I was concerned it might exploit Harper for the sake of a story, but it was immediately apparent she was fully on board, and that their goal was raising awareness, acceptance, and understanding.  Her description of her childhood and her journey were so well stated, and so poignent.   And they openly address the elephant in the room (that Will is so recognizable it renders the interactions wth the public on this rural road trip ingenuine), but Harper expalins that the safety Will and his fame provided gave her more confidence to forge her way on her own more authentically.  I think this story is exactly what many aging Gen x-ers need to help them understand the transgender community. A must see!

**
I am a conservative individual but wanted to give this a try to see the other side of an issue (and I genuinely enjoy W Ferrell). They had me until they set up the diners in the Texas steakhouse. I did research on the scene and not at all how it is portrayed for the viewer. Documentary lost all credibility at that moment and Ferrell owes those diners an apology.

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Movie Review: Will & Harper
A celebration of friendship, America, and the power of empathy.
Baltimore Magazine
By Max Weiss
October 5, 2024


One day, the comedian/actor Will Ferrell gets an email from his old friend, a former head writer for SNL and one of the first people to truly recognize Will’s talent. She explains that she’s transitioning and now goes by the name Harper Steele.

This is a bit of a shock to Will. For one, in her old life, Harper was something of a guy’s guy—a drinker of cheap beer, a fan of the open road, a curmudgeon. Also, she’s 61, which seems late in life to make such a big change. Will never saw this coming. But that’s because Harper hid her true self so well.

It’s Will’s idea that the two old friends should take a cross-country road trip to get reacquainted with each other. It’s important for Harper that Will meets the real her, a new person—still flawed, still scared but a better, more honest version of her old self. Nothing is off limits. Any questions can be asked. Yes, you can ask why it took so long. Yes, you can ask about her boobs. (Of course, Will will make a Nordstrom “Rack” joke.)

So the two friends climb into a Grand Wagoneer—the actual perfect car for a road trip—and set off.

[…]

I found Will’s openness to Harper almost unbearably moving. He compliments her—tells her she looks pretty. He is comfortable hugging her and crying in front of her. This is real masculinity, in my eyes. Men, take notes.

A few former and current SNL cast members show up: There’s a dinner in New York with Tina Fey, Seth Meyers, Tim Meadows, and others. Harper talks about how she no longer feels safe walking alone in an alley.

“Welcome,” says Fey.

“Does it ever feel safe to walk alone in an alley?” Meadows cracks.

It is a sad commentary on the state of the country. That as they traveled around the country once they crossed the Mason-Dixon line it was a whole new world. But… but… there is love out there. In one bar where they played pool they made friends.

The film, of course, ends with Wiig’s creation, “Will and Harper Go West,” which is as funny and delightful a ditty as you might hope. (And yes, it made me cry.)

Oh, how I wish the transphobes of this world could watch this film and see how wonderful empathy is. It costs nothing. It broadens one’s understanding of the world and the humans who populate it. And it makes everyone feel good.

As I said I was up at my brother’s and sister-in-law’s in Maine and when we were sitting around I asked “Do you have Netflix?” because I don’t and I wanted to watch the movie.

I think we became closer because of this, it helped them understand what it is like being me. And I imagine thousand of other people watching the movie walked away feeling the same way.
 

One thing, I would imagine that everyone in the movie signed a release… I wonder how many we didn’t? I also imagine that they also went into the bar and restaurants before hand to get permission, so in someways that framed the movie by the establishments in a positive light.

 

I also hope that for all those trans people out there that this lends them courage to be themselves.

Rotten Tomatoes
*****
I don't really know why I feel the need to leave a review for a movie on Google but I just don't know where else to put my love for this documentary, for Will, and most importantly for Harper.

I hope she sees this and knows that there is a transgender person in Iowa City who has been fucking around with gender since I was 14 (I am now 23). There is trans joy and love for her here in her hometown, and there is everywhere. I feel so lucky being able to grow into my gender as it shifts and changes through my life, and I certainly hope Harper feels the freedom to do the same.

As far as the documentary goes, it is wonderfully constructed and filmed with an excellent soundtrack. It keeps the topic of an evolving friendship and trans joy as its central theme but does not discount the discomfort which comes with the transgender experience. The humor is excellent, the humanity is vibrant, and I cannot speak enough praise beyond that.

Thank you to both Will and Harper.