'Please Stand By' misses the mark in portrayal of autistic woman

[AGXStarseed]

(Not written by me)

Dakota Fanning in the movie "Please Stand By." (Vivian Zink / Magnolia Pictures)


"Please Stand By," directed by Ben Lewin and adapted by Michael Golamco from his one-act play of the same name, stars Dakota Fanning as Wendy, an autistic Bay Area woman on an epic journey to deliver her 462-page "Star Trek" spec script to Paramount Studios in Los Angeles and submit it for a fan contest.

Perhaps it's the expansion of a one-act play to a feature film, or perhaps it's simply the casting of a neurotypical person in the role of a character with autism spectrum disorder, but something about "Please Stand By" just doesn't quite come together.

The plot is a classic adventure tale, as Wendy slips away from her group home in San Francisco to travel to L.A., script in hand, before the contest deadline. Her journey is complicated by disasters and near-misses that strain the suspension of disbelief.

If the purpose of the story is to follow this unique young woman as she's forced outside of her comfort zone to face her fears, that's undermined by the contrivances required to keep this misadventure rolling. They demand that Wendy be in some ways impaired, despite how high-functioning she is. It feels like the plot dictates the character, not the other way around.

Fanning commits to a remote and unexpressive performance; as Wendy she speaks stiffly and never makes eye contact. As thorough as it is, it's inauthentic to deny her character any emotional expression. "Please Stand By" has its surface charms — the always lovely Toni Collette as Wendy's counselor Scotty; a spectacular performance by a chihuahua playing her dog Pete, Patton Oswalt as a Trekkie LAPD cop — but if you look under the hood, the film just doesn't work.

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‘Please Stand By’
Rated: PG-13 for brief strong language

Running time: 1 hour, 33 minutes

Playing: Laemmle Ahrya Fine Arts, Beverly Hills

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Source: 'Please Stand By' misses the mark in portrayal of autistic woman

 

[Butterfly88]

That's too bad. I think I'm going to see it anyway. Every women with autism is so different, so maybe it won't miss the mark under my standards.

 

[pjcnet]

Well not only is the actress not autistic in real life and therefore hasn't got a clue what it's really like, but it's likely that no-one on the entire crew or even the script writers were autistic either, so of course it's not going to be realistic. Also the movie makers in the case of a lighthearted movie are more interested in entertainment to get viewers and they know that the majority of people watching will be NTs even if virtually every autistic person watches it because we're in the small minority.

I've only watched the trailer, but it's bordering on being insulting in my opinion because it's taking the p**s out of an autistic person just for entertainment and even to get a few laughs, E.g. ha ha it's so funny watching her struggling on the verge of a meltdown. No exactly, it's NOT funny and movies like this can actually cause more people to take the p**s out of autistic people, in fact I was bullied at school mostly because they found my meltdowns entertaining and funny! Also contrary to popular belief not every autistic person loves Star Trek, but this is stereotypical. I wonder what would happen if they made a movie taking the p**s out of someone in a wheelchair? E.g. ha ha, look they're struggling even trying to get up the kerb and look how embarrassed they are. Well it would be banned and rightly so, but at least the movie appears to show some good things about being autistic too and it looks like it's ultimately going to be one of those unrealistic feel good movies where there's always a happy ending against all odds (barely ever like real life).

On a slightly different subject, but on the same lines of taking the p**s out of people with conditions or disabilities, I could never understand how the once very popular sitcom based around a British corner shop called "Open All Hours" (1973-1985) starring the late Ronnie Barker and David Jason was allowed without anyone appearing to complain about it and amazingly this was produced by the normally overly politically correct BBC. I mean it blatantly takes the living p**s out of people who have stammering which they believe is caused by a neurological condition (causing stuttering of speech).

If they allow this they obviously won't have an issue with movies taking the p**s out of autistic people either, yes you might find it funny, but it's likely to be very insulting to the people suffering from the condition. This is just from the 4th series and some people still enjoy watching the series even today and it's generally considered one of the best classic British sitcoms of all time, in fact the series was later released on DVD which is currently still on sale (personally I never found it funny, but I still had to put up with watching it since my parents liked it and I remember mentioning this point even back then when no-one else seemed to care).

 

[OkRad]

Oh for goodness sake. WHY won't they let real autistic women play autistic women on TV. Men, too. I am tired of these fakers. Sorry to rant. But you can always tell. You can TELL!! There are little movements and these "awkward" things that are particular to each person that cannot be pulled off by actors.

OK, I WILL day though many people ABHOR the movies Rain Man, I think Dustin Hoffman did a superb job in most places in that movie. The crosswalk scene was a bit over the top. And being in a casino with his sensory issues? Fat chance. But one the whole, it was acceptable BUT I bet a real autistic man would have done a much better job.

Hire us for goodness sake!!! Phhhhffffffff

 

[pjcnet]

Oh for goodness sake. WHY won't they let real autistic women play autistic women on TV. Men, too. I am tired of these fakers. Sorry to rant. But you can always tell. You can TELL!! There are little movements and these "awkward" things that are particular to each person that cannot be pulled off by actors.

OK, I WILL day though many people ABHOR the movies Rain Man, I think Dustin Hoffman did a superb job in most places in that movie. The crosswalk scene was a bit over the top. And being in a casino with his sensory issues? Fat chance. But one the whole, it was acceptable BUT I bet a real autistic man would have done a much better job.

Hire us for goodness sake!!! Phhhhffffffff

Even Rain Man took the p**s out of an autistic person however for entertainment and laughs, I agree it should have been played by an autistic person, but I don't think they should make comedies or even lighthearted movies where the main focus of the entertainment is a person's autistic traits. Also all autistic people are different and movies tend to show stereotypical roles that many NTs then suddenly expect all autistic people to fall into.

 

[Butterfly88]

It would be great if an autistic person starred in the film. However, speaking for myself only, as an autistic person I could never handle starring in a film. All the people on set, directors yelling, annoying co-stars, the long hours, the lighting, noises, my social anxiety, and so on. Unless the whole crew was autistic I don't think I'd last a day. Maybe some of you here could be up for the challenge and that's great, but I think finding an experienced autistic actor up for the job is easier said than done.

Regarding have autistic people in comedies, honestly I'd rather have autistic people in comedies then not have us in films at all. Just because it's a comedy doesn't necessarily mean the autistic person is the reason they are laughing. And even if it was, I laugh at my autism all the time, not at my struggles but my silly quirks. As long as they don't portray autistic people negatively I don't see a problem. Documentaries and other genres of movies with autistic people are nice but few people watch them. Even if people learn one thing about autism watching the film I consider it a success.

 

[AGXStarseed]

On a slightly different subject, but on the same lines of taking the p**s out of people with conditions or disabilities, I could never understand how the once very popular sitcom based around a British corner shop called "Open All Hours" (1973-1985) starring the late Ronnie Barker and David Jason was allowed without anyone appearing to complain about it and amazingly this was produced by the normally overly politically correct BBC. I mean it blatantly takes the living p**s out of people who have stammering which they believe is caused by a neurological condition (causing stuttering of speech).

From what I've read, some people with stammers did find it funny as Ronnie Barker said he received a letter from a family who all had stammers and they said they found his character of Arkwright to be hilarious.
To each their own, I suppose.

 

[Progster]

That looks like it's gong to be one cliche after the other, just like just about every other feelgood movie that was ever made. Such movies do more harm than good because Joe Public doesn't know how to distinguish between an actor playing a fictional character with autism inaccurately and the reality of the condition. It's all about stereotypes. They look at one fictional character with autism and assume that we are all gong to be like that, and that if we don't fit that stereotype, then we can't be autistic.

 

[pjcnet]

From what I've read, some people with stammers did find it funny as Ronnie Barker said he received a letter from a family who all had stammers and they said they found his character of Arkwright to be hilarious.
To each their own, I suppose.

Humour is an odd thing, some people may find something funny, others won't and some may even find exactly the same thing offensive. That's why you often have to be really careful with comedy, not just in movies or as a comedian, but also when ordinary people make jokes. Edit: Also some humour can change over time with changing culture and new generations, some things that might be funny today to most people, in the past wouldn't have been funny or even offensive, and vice versa.

For example, the late Bernard Manning was known as one of the most racist stand up comedians in history, he was even banned from British TV after blatantly claiming he was racist while being interviewed live. Whether he really was truly racist or whether it was just part of his stage character and act is debatable, but he owned a nightclub where he would regularly perform. Apparently there was sometimes protests from ethnic minorities, in fact there was even a serious fire caused by arson and his security had to be very tight. Despite all the protesters who hated him for being racist, some of his best regulars were actually black people who loved him, he would often single them out in the audience and they'd try to insult him back as much as he gave, usually losing, so yes each to their own.

 

[Fridgemagnetman]

Humour is an odd thing, some people may find something funny, others won't and some may even find exactly the same thing offensive. That's why you often have to be really careful with comedy, not just in movies or as a comedian, but also when ordinary people make jokes.

For example, the late Bernard Manning was known as one of the most racist stand up comedians in history, he was even banned from British TV after blatantly claiming he was racist while being interviewed live. Whether he really was truly racist or whether it was just part of his stage character and act is debatable, but he owned a nightclub where he would regularly perform. Apparently there was sometimes protests from ethnic minorities, in fact there was even a serious fire caused by arson and his security had to be very tight. Despite all the protesters who hated him for being racist, some of his best regulars were actually black people who loved him, he would often single them out in the audience and they'd try to insult him back as much as he gave, usually losing, so yes each to their own.

Times change and a lot of comedians take the brunt.

But they were telling jokes that worked with an audience to earn money.

One of those things that,as times change,people wouldnt admit to laughing. Even though they were there.

Audience and comedians are equally responsible.

 

[Riley]

At least this is sort-of a positive stereotype. I'd rather be known as a joke than anything like Chris-chan.

Actually...I take that back. I'd rather been seen seriously.

Yet my whole life thrived on getting attention in negative or positive ways.

I don't really give a crap about how 'offensive' this movie might be. All I can think about is that Coraline's VA is the leading lady. And that's better than inclusiveness in my book.

 

[VioletHaze_03]

Even though representation of women on the spectrum is less than great, i think it's good that the media acknowledges we exist. We may not be acknowledged perfectly at first, but it's still better than bieng invisible. In many of the anime and webcomics i'm into, i can identify some female aspie characters, even if they were never meant to be seen that way. I'd like to see the whole nt imitation struggle represented for as painful and and disheartening as it is in real time, rather than just as something for nts to laugh at and relate their "quirkiness" to. I hate it when serious disabilities and mental illnesses get represented as being fun and eccentric. We're actively trying to hide anything that makes us weird, so find the times we slip up "funny" is really kind of insulting. I'd also like to see less pressure to imediately find these characters relationships, and more realistic portrayal of how naive some of us are and how easily we can fall into abusive relationships. Sometimes success for high functioning girls means bieng happy with ourselves and our own lives. I'd also like to see nonverbal and minimally verbal actors and characters. On that note i really found that new talk show hosted by carly fleischman(probably spelled that wrong) really amazing. Her sense of humor is awesome, and it's inspiring to know that even the people with the "worst" disabilities can still find a way to show the world how wonderful they can be.

 

[Judge]

I guess my most visceral reaction to that trailer is that this is being marketed as a comedy. The whole time I watched it, comedy was the furthest thing from my mind.

I took that scenario quite seriously, much like the lead character did.

But then who cares what I think? Hollywood demographics leave me out by default by age alone, so being Neurodiverse becomes a moot point as well.

 

[Butterfly88]

I guess my most visceral reaction to that trailer is that this is being marketed as a comedy. The whole time I watched it, comedy was the furthest thing from my mind.

I took that scenario quite seriously, much like the lead character did.

But then who cares what I think? Hollywood demographics leave me out by default by age alone, so being Neurodiverse becomes a moot point as well.

That is true, I didn't laugh during the trailer either. I care what you think Judge.