Hold On!

The children of American astronauts pick "Herman's Hermits" as the good-luck name for the next Gemini capsule. This choice sparks concern at NASA that the public will misread the U.S. as still rooted in a colonial image. Colby Grant, a State Department official, orders Edward Lindquist to shadow the band to prevent a PR nightmare.

Lindquist is tasked by Colby Grant to follow the band on tour and gather information. His mission is to identify anything that could trigger negative publicity or misinterpretation. He begins his surveillance as Bannister's publicity strategies unfold.

Bannister hires a publicity agent and a photographer to craft favorable narratives with the band. They stage moments they believe will boost Bannister's career, oblivious to how their plots will intersect with the band's image. The resulting photos become fuel for the media's misperceptions.

A riot of teenage fans at Los Angeles International Airport yields an unflattering photo. Newspapers publish a story that makes Lindquist suspect Bannister is an old friend of the band. The misunderstanding triggers the core PR complication of the plot.

Lindquist and Bannister each misreads the other, thinking the other is someone else with a different role. Their assumptions complicate the mission and blur the line between journalist, publicist, and fan. The tension fuels the media circus surrounding the band.

The band and their manager Dudley retreat to the Miramar Hotel to prep for the charity benefit. The forced sequestering heightens nerves as Lindquist closes in on the truth about Bannister's role. Dudley tries to shield the group from intrusive media while the public story grows louder.

Herman watches teens on the beach and yearns to join them, to meet a girl, to fall in love. Mrs. Page introduces Herman to her daughter Louisa, who offers to show him Los Angeles. The budding romance provides a glimpse of the life behind the fame.

Defying Dudley, the band slips from the hotel to Pacific Ocean Park to escape the watchful glare. They split up to maximize anonymity, hoping to avoid recognition by fans. The plan yields chaotic scenes that intensify the media's fixation on the band.

Herman finds Louisa and falls in love, while the rest of the band explores the park's attractions. Dudley mistakes the absence of the band for kidnapping and calls the police. The park's surreal energy fuels the escalating tension around the band's safety and the tour.

Lindquist and Herman cross paths on the roller coaster, and Lindquist realizes Bannister has fed him false information. The moment shifts the dynamic, prompting the truth to be aired to the band. They prepare to let Grant see the group perform at the charity to resolve the PR mess.

Cleared of kidnapping charges, Lindquist comes clean to the band about his mission and intent. The band agrees to let Grant attend the charity benefit to see them perform. The purpose is to present a controlled unveiling of the truth, not a sensational expose.

Teeny crowds overrun the country club during the charity event, creating a pressure cooker moment. Grant decides to cancel the rocket naming amid the mayhem, but nationwide teen protests force NASA to rename the capsule after the band. The outcome cements the public's view of the band's cultural impact beyond music.

The band headlines a climactic concert for 50,000 fans at the Rose Bowl, delivering a high-energy performance. They are whisked by a hypersonic jet to Cape Kennedy for the rocket launch, then return in time to play one more song before the credits. The sequence fuses a music spectacle with space-age bravado for a triumphant ending.