Alex Woo, Netflix, and Kuku Studio present In Your Dreams, a comedy adventure that follows Stevie (Jolie Hoang-Rappaport) and her brother Elliot (Elias Janssen) as they journey into the absurd landscape of their own dreams. If the siblings can withstand a snarky stuffed giraffe, zombie breakfast foods, and the queen of nightmares, the Sandman will grant them their ultimate dream come true: the perfect family.
In Your Dreams was a heartfelt movie that nostalgia-baited me hard. Growing up in the suburbs, albeit right outside Toronto, Canada, it still felt like a similar experience to those growing up in the Midwest in the United States. Those from more rural towns across Canada will wholeheartedly relate to this film’s vibes. This movie also captured so many classic suburban family tropes: moving from the suburbs to the city, dealing with marital issues, and siblings who cannot quite get along.
The art style of this film started stale, feeling like an offshoot of Gabby’s Dollhouse. The strength of this art style was the way the animation department pushed its limits. In one of the dream sequences, it was like watching a G-rated scene out of Sausage Party. It was more along the lines of The Nightmare Before Christmas shenanigans with living inanimate objects.
“The strength of this art style was the way the animation department pushed its limits.”
I did not expect to hear a rendition of The Pussycat Dolls’ Don’t Cha at a pizzeria that resembled the one from Five Nights at Freddy’s. The music choices throughout In Your Dreams were perfect, from Outkast to Eurythmics. Long-time Disney composer John Debney scored this film without a distinct theme. This was disappointing, coming from someone who made iconic scores for Hocus Pocus and the Spy Kids films.
Funnily enough, Woo and Erik Benson’s writing took me back to when I enjoyed sibling adventure movies like Zathura, the 1995 Jumanji, and the Spy Kids films. The way Stevie and Elliot were transported to another world felt like a true modern children’s classic adventure. The locations the kids visit throughout the movie, such as Polly’s Pizzeria, reminded me of birthday parties at Chuck E. Cheese.
The voice acting was solid across the board. Simu Liu and Cristin Milioti had good chemistry through their characters, especially when the two were working through their family issues. The kids also performed well. Craig Robinson’s portrayal of Baloney Tony was a roller-coaster ride of emotions. His performance was similar to Richard Fine’s Bing Bong from Inside Out, though it had a little less impact than expected from a spiritual guide for the kids.
“In Your Dreams’ greatest strength was in its relatability.”
In Your Dreams’ greatest strength was in its relatability. Personally, I liked the Sailor Moon reference with the in-world comic Dynamite Fists. Everyone has good dreams and bad dreams, and the animation pushed the ridiculousness of many dreams we may have all had. The mature themes around parents in a strained marriage will resonate with many couples today.
The kids navigated these themes realistically and were not oblivious to their seriousness. As adults, we can understand why Stevie thinks the way she does, but it was also about her coming to grips with accepting change—for herself and for others. In Your Dreams nailed the sibling dynamic between the older and younger child. I’m a sucker for sibling adventures, especially when they feel as authentic as Stevie and Elliot’s.
In Your Dreams effectively blended a well-known story about the Sandman and handled many coming-of-age and childhood themes well. Netflix was the perfect format for this 90-minute film because it could have been devoured at the box office against giant movies such as Wicked: For Good and Zootopia 2. This is a movie that can bring families together because it resonates deeply with parents who grew up in the 1990s, allowing their kids to see how they grew up.
