When the comedian Will Ferrell learned that one of his oldest friends had transitioned to female and was now living as Harper Steele, he suggested a road trip together as a way of supporting and learning from her. The resulting film is a poignant and frequently very funny portrait of their evolving relationship. But that’s as far as it goes. To suggest that the documentary offers much in the way of real insight into the experience of a late-life newly transitioned individual as she navigates the US is disingenuous. The cushioning effect of Ferrell’s celebrity and, judging by the closing credit list, an extensive and well-funded production team, mean that while this is a likable-enough film, it is an insulated and artificial construction.
In UK and Irish cinemas and on Netflix
