The new documentary Will & Harper is more than a feel-good, hilarious buddy road trip movie. It’s also an emotional, heartfelt film about the courage to reinvent yourself amid uncertainties, discomfort, and danger in the face of the unknown. Starring old friends Will Ferrell and Harper Steele, Will & Harper is a film about rediscovery, support, and fearlessly embracing new beginnings through friendship.

Old friends exploring new beginnings

We’re all familiar with funnyman Will Ferrell, best known for his starring roles in Achorman and Elf. However, Andrew Steele, an Emmy award-winning former head writer at Saturday Night Live, contributed to his earliest successes. Steele helped Ferrell create some of his most memorable characters during their time on SNL, which resulted in a long-running creative partnership and personal friendship.

Will & Harper opens with Will Farrell sitting for the camera while recounting his decades-long friendship with Andrew while iconic SNL clips play. Will then shares that, years after leaving the show, he received an unexpected email from Andrew: that he was coming out as a trans woman named Harper. Initially stunned, Ferrell reached out to reconnect and explore this new dynamic in their friendship. And so, the pals set out on a road trip across America’s heartland to spend time together, gain new perspectives, and help them work through this new and confusing future.

Supporting friends through tough times

From their first reuniting, it’s clear how close Will and Harper were then and remain now. Will hops into Harper’s four-runner, and the two immediately return to being their old selves, doing bits about Pringle’s chips, Walmart, Pabst Blue Ribbon, and more. But as familiar as it is, it’s not the same. Even though Harper still loves drinking PBR beer and enjoying shamelessly trashy pop culture, she asks herself, is she still the same person she was before? Will wonders the same; is this a new person before him? What does their new friendship look like?

Will Ferrell is the perfect person for any audience to navigate this new experience with. He provides an endless stream of lightheartedness and laughter to keep the situation fun (asking Harper if she’s now a worse driver than before). However, the doc’s most memorable moments arise when real life stops the comedy. When Will meets the mayor of Indiana courtside at a Pacers game, Harper shares that he signed anti-trans laws in the state, putting Harper in an uncomfortable position. But the most painful, borderline dangerous moment was during their stop in Texas, where an all-you-can-eat steak challenge turned into a scary affair where locals chastised them, and social media harassed them, leading them to both acknowledge the frightening situation through tear-filled shock.

Embracing new unknowns

At its core, Will & Harper is a movie about embracing the unknown. Seeing Harper and Will confront change despite scary futures is genuinely inspiring. The journey of self-discovery as we age is a theme anyone can relate to. Directed by Josh Greenbaum (Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar), Will & Harper is a terrific documentary that promotes tolerance and should be a must-watch for all audiences. Life can be scary, but it’s less so with a little help from our friends.

1h 54m. Will & Harper is rated R for language.