Will & Harper: Unrealistic for Many, Necessary for All

Will Ferrell’s journey with his trans friend Harper Steele is a touching story that speaks to the power of friendship and celebrates trans identities. However, as Steele mentions, her experience road-tripping across the country with Ferrell is not representative of the everyday trans experience. Cameras, crew, and Ferrell’s fame and humor buffer Steele’s experiences as they visit small-town bars, restaurants, and different event locations in various states across the U.S. including Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Oklahoma, Texas, Nevada, and Arizona.

Harper Steele is a television writer who worked on SNL and various films with Ferrell throughout the years. Before transitioning, she enjoyed driving cross country, visiting dives and dinners, and drinking Natural Lite, what Ferrell mockingly refers to as shitty beer. This sets up a clever buddy-comedy dynamic with Ferrell as the bougie bestie who drinks craft beer and Steele as the more rough-and-tumble, blue-collar bestie. They embark on a road trip together to get reacquainted now that Steele lives as her authentic self and to find out if the country she loves so much still loves her post-transition. They begin their journey in NYC visiting with SNL alumni and then make stops in DC, Indiana, Illinois, and Oklahoma. In Indiana, Steele enters the first dive by herself leaving Ferrell on standby in case things get hairy. The editing and music make viewers feel things will not go well in this bar, but when Steele tries to befriend a fellow bar patron, she succeeds. Ferrell and Steele’s experiences in the first few states are like this one, mostly positive, aside from them later finding out that Governor Eric Halcomb of Indiana, who insisted on meeting Ferrell at the Pacers game, had recently passed anti-trans legislature.

When they reach Amarillo, Texas, reality finally makes an appearance. Ferrell and Steele visit the Big Texan Steak Ranch where Ferrell plans to take on the restaurant’s 72-ounce steak challenge. Ferrell embarks on the challenge dressed as Sherlock Holmes, drawing extra attention to him and his already anxious trans friend. As if the Sherlock costume wasn’t enough to garner attention, Ferrell and Steele are sat at an elevated table in the center of the restaurant.

Patrons record the pair as Ferrell and Steele awkwardly take bites of their meal. Both Steele and Ferrell express their discomfort in this moment and with good reason. Their Big Texan experience results in a barrage of transphobic and hateful social media comments that drive Ferrell to tears as he confesses he feels he didn’t do enough to protect Steele. While it’s true that he placed her in an uncomfortable situation unnecessarily, his fame protected Steele in Texas and throughout the entire road trip. A trans person, especially one of color, would’ve had a wildly different experience in small-town America without the protective cloak of Ferrell’s fame.

Things improve from this point despite Ferrell wearing yet another ridiculous costume in an effort to “disguise himself” while out on the town with Steele in Vegas. This draws them unnecessary attention yet again doing nothing to shield Ferrell’s identity. Luckily, Vegas receives the pair better than Texas.

The documentary ends on a hopeful note with Ferrell and Steele setting off fireworks after a heartfelt conversation where Steele reveals that she once purchased a home years ago to live freely as a woman away from the prying eyes of society. Even though Steele’s small-town road trip experience with Farrell is an unrealistic depiction of the majoritarian trans experience, what is realistic in the documentary is the portrayal of the challenges of coming out and the power of friends and chosen family. Ferrell and the rest of the SNL alumni who participated in the film display unfettered love and support for their colleague and friend, Harper Steele. Perhaps this is the point of the film: to showcase the importance of and celebrate supportive friends and family who empower us to live as our authentic selves.

#willandharper #willferrell #harpersteele #SNL #trans #transrights #queer #documentary #review #movies #America