| Date watched | September 9th |
|---|---|
| Show Time | 2:08pm |
| Theater | My Desk |
| Theater Number | The big screen computer |
| Pizza | No Pizza |
| Tickets | Its on Netflix |
| Letterboxd Rating | ****(4) |
| Crew | Team Me |
I haven’t written more than a couple of paragraphs in an email in a long time and I’m finding it hard to string together my thoughts. What I did here is dictated my thoughts on the movie and then fed them through Chat GPT and then edited the output. I think this workflow will help me make more coherent and cohesive posts without sounding like a robot. It’s a challenge to get these thoughts out. Maybe over time I’ll depend on it less and less. Thats my hope anyway.
Another note is that this blog is called the Double Lunch Dispatch because in I Saw the TV Glow there is a bar that is in both the Pink Opaque and in the midnight realm where I think the movie takes place. The idea being this could be a zine or a newsletter that you found in the bar talking about the latest movies or beers or whatever out there. Frank is Owen’s dad and he is always watching TV so we are watching movies on Frank’s Couch for a series name. Luna juice is what Mr Melancholie’s henchpeople make you drink to come under his control or so you die so that’s what the Beer series is called. I’ll probably use other TV Glow references but just so you know where it all comes from.
The other night, instead of watching the Packers lose in Jordan Love’s first game back, I found myself looking for something more entertaining at half time. That’s when I stumbled upon Will and Harper, a documentary featuring Harper Steele and Will Ferrell. What I expected to be a light road trip film quickly revealed itself to be much deeper, touching on the complexities of gender identity and accepting your friends where they are.
####Gender and Society: A Lens on Privilege
In the United States, and through alot of the west systems of oppression are layered. There is Race are you a member of the dominant group, then Gender are you a man in the patriarchal society we have this is a big one, then evaluate economic status are they disabled or have any phsyical differences. I’m sure there’s many more I’m a white guy working a tech job. I try and be aware of things but there are likely many privileges I am not even aware of.
For Harper, this means facing the world without the same privilege and experiencing the world through a different lens, one that comes with new dangers and risks. Throughout the trip, we see the constant caution she must exercise simply because she’s a woman, and then sometimes even more care because she is a trans woman. This vulnerability is especially clear as they travel through more conservative parts of the country, where traditional gender roles are deeply entrenched, and hostility towards the LGBTQ+ community is tolerated or encouraged by government policy.
Will, with his fame and privilege, moves through the world without fear, while Harper is experiencing in some places a brand new sensation of constant vigilance against the potential threats around her. This contrast between their experiences helps to highlight roles both friends have to play for each other.
####The Complexities of Gender Roles and Expectations
Another element I found powerful in Will and Harper is how societal expectations of gender. Harper’s transition doesn’t just change how she is seen; it also challenges deeply held beliefs about what it means to be a man or a woman. In many ways, her journey is a confrontation with a patriarchal society that sees women, and especially trans women, as “lesser” or “weaker.” The film doesn’t shy away from showing the microaggressions and outright hostility Harper faces simply for existing in a space where she doesn’t conform to social expectations.
The documentary captures the emotional toll of navigating a world that isn’t always accepting, and it makes you think about the lengths women, and particularly trans women, have to go to protect themselves. Harper’s story is a reminder that gender identity is a profound part of who we are, and society’s reaction to it can either validate or endanger a person’s existence. There is a moment near the beginning when many old SNL friends are all sitting together and I think it was Tina Faye just casually mentions yeah you cant do that when referring to going down a dark alley alone in the city. It was so matter of fact that I didn’t really notice it the first time but when I rewatched the scene I really felt that. Like there is an acceptable level of violence against women and you have to just work around it if you want to exist. Like watching that scene in Hidden Figures if you search for " No more colored bathroom,no more white bathroom" it should come up. Privileges are often invisible to those who have them and it was just another light coming on for me.
####Friendship and Reconnection: Navigating Change Together
While gender plays a central role in the film, Will and Harper is also a story of friendship. Will Ferrell and Harper Steele have known each other for years, but this road trip is their first time reconnecting since Harper’s transition. There is a wonderful love in how they navigate the changes in their lives while still holding onto the core of their bond.
Watching them interact reminded me of that universal experience of reconnecting with an old friend. When people change, especially in big ways like Harper has, you often wonder if they’re still the same person underneath it all. Will and Harper shows that despite the physical and emotional changes Harper has gone through, their friendship is still very much intact. Will’s support of Harper throughout their journey is a testament to the resilience of true friendship and a reminder that friendship, when it’s real, can survive transformation.
####Privilege and the Reality of Safety on the Road.
As the film follows their journey across the country, the stark differences in how Will and Harper experience the trip are impossible to ignore. Will, as a wealthy and famous man, can enjoy the freedom of the open road without a second thought. For Harper, every stop, whether it’s a gas station or a small-town diner, comes with a risk. There’s an underlying tension in the film that reflects the reality faced by many women and trans people in America today.
This disparity in safety and privilege was a major takeaway for me. It’s a reminder of how much we take for granted based on our societal status and identity. Harper’s past experiences of traveling carefree now seem distant, as she navigates the world with heightened awareness of the dangers that come with her identity. It’s a sobering reflection on how privilege, or lack of it, shapes every aspect of life.
####A Reflection on Identity and Change
Ultimately, Will and Harper is about identity, how it evolves and how we come to terms with it. For Will, this road trip is a chance to understand Harper’s transition and what it means for their friendship. For Harper, it’s a way to confront the fears and challenges that come with being a trans woman in a society that doesn’t always accept her.
The documentary doesn’t offer easy answers, but it does provide a thoughtful exploration of what it means to live authentically in a world that often resists change. The road trip serves as a metaphor for the journey of self-discovery, and by the end, both Will and Harper have learned something new about each other and themselves.
####Final Thoughts
Will and Harper is far more than a road trip movie. It’s a powerful exploration of gender, identity, and friendship in a society where these issues are still deeply contested. The film shows us that even in a world that is often hostile to change, true friendship and self-acceptance can offer a path forward.
Watching the film reminded me of the importance of empathy, of seeing the world through another’s eyes. Harper’s story, and Will’s support of her, is a reminder that we all have a role to play in creating a world where everyone can feel safe being themselves.