Television rating|In the documentary, friends Will Ferrell and Harper Steele drive across the United States and talk about Steele’s new life as a woman. Comedian Ferrell’s jokes spoil good conversations.
Will & Harper. Netflix.
★★
Actor-comedian Will Ferrell and screenwriter Andrew Steele have known each other for thirty years. The duo’s paths crossed for the first time in the 1990s on a comedy show Saturday Night Live on set, and that began a long collaboration and, above all, friendship.
During the corona pandemic, a new chapter was written in friendship. Ferrell received an e-mail from Steele in which he said that he would live as a woman in the future.
“For the past ten years, I’ve been trying to understand what it’s all about. I’ve tried to get rid of it time and time again,” Steele reads his message in the documentary Will & Harper.
Harper is Steele’s new first name. As an interesting detail, let’s mention that the name Harper comes from exactly where you would expect it to: Like killing a nightingale -author From Harper Leewho was a schoolmate of Steele’s mother.
To demonstrate to support his friend, Ferrell suggests a road trip across the United States together. The purpose is to knock on places where Steele has enjoyed himself as Andrew, but is afraid to go to as Harper: outlying cottages, sporting events, in general, in front of people. At the same time, we would have a proper discussion and feel out whether the matter somehow affects the relationship between the two.
by Josh Greenbaum the documentary he directed is so close to a feel-good drama film that it is difficult to discern the difference at times. Of course, Ferrell and Steele are their true selves in front of the camera, but everything else, from the filming to the editing and the music, reminds me of a sentimental buddy comedy.
Document it’s buzzing exactly where it’s supposed to be. It’s hard for Ferrell to get out of his comedic hair, and the film is a constant alternation of serious and light. Of course, that doesn’t have to be a bad thing. Now, however, it happens that Ferrell’s babbling always returns a deep-reaching conversation to a superficial one.
The authors have probably thought that a documentary describing comedians must save a lot of space for comedy. Yes, even less would have been fine.
Sometimes we even go to the side of sympathy. After a harrowing night, Ferrell suggests to Steele that they get dressed up and go out to eat. It could make it easier for Steele, who worries about his own masculine appearance. Ferrell should just dress so that he doesn’t attract attention and collect ass-flies around him.
Well, how’s it going? Steele arrives at the dinner, elegantly dressed, and Ferrell, “disguised” in a shaggy wig and a moustache, who explains to the waiter that he is Bette Midler’s and former manager of the band Air Supply. The duo laughs, the viewer is embarrassed.
Obvious the problem is, of course, a star like Ferrell is recognized everywhere, and jokes are also made about it. On that side, Steele often remains a statistic. It’s hard to trust that people will accept themselves when there is a humorist loved by many in the company.
In Indiana, Ferrelle and Steele go to a basketball game, and the governor of the state comes to greet Ferrell. Pictures are taken along with the small talk. Later, the two google what this is Eric Holcomb is right his men. Answer: a Republican politician who has made, among other things, policies that discriminate against trans people.
The friends explain the situation in shock, but just when we get to the point, we switch to a lighter eye – and the journey continues!
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