Parents' Guide to Please Stand By

This mostly entertaining tribute to the power of fandom is bolstered by notable performances and should appeal to Star Trek die-hards and anyone who creates or consumes fan fiction. Wendy's encyclopedic knowledge of Star Trek trivia, coupled with her determination to submit her manuscript, is enough to make Please Stand By an authentic depiction of a serious fangirl. What seems less certain, however, is how adequate the movie's portrayal of autism is, considering that Wendy checks off a few too many boxes from the clichéd "autism characteristics" checklist. The logic of some of her decisions is particularly confounding, since she values routine above all else and doesn't feel comfortable crossing a major thoroughfare. With that (large) caveat, once you suspend disbelief, it's easy to get sucked into Wendy's adventure and cheer for her to get the manuscript in on time.

As expected in a road trip movie, Wendy meets a few memorable characters along the way -- some who make a negative impact and some who make a positive one. Marla Gibbs pops up as a kind woman who accompanies Wendy to the bus after rescuing her from an unethical convenience store cashier. Collette is delightful as the supportive Scottie, who first utters the titular words to calm Wendy down during an episode of anxiety. Patton Oswalt also makes an appearance as a cop who speaks Klingon and therefore can really communicate with Wendy. Nothing in the plot is especially original, but you can't help but want Wendy to have her victory on behalf of anyone and everyone who's ever loved a TV show, movie, or book to the point of fully immersing themselves in that fictional universe.