If there’s one thing we can count on from Netflix, it’s thrilling animation. Whether a series rooted in Greek mythology, like Blood of Zeus, or the current musical sensation, Kpop Demon Hunters, Netflix has viewers covered when it comes to animation.
The latest to premiere on the streamer (written and directed by Alex Woo) brings audiences into the world of dreams, where sometimes dreams don’t come true. In Your Dreams follows siblings Stevie (Jolie Hoang-Rappaport) and Elliot (Elias Janssen) as they discover a magical book that leads them into the world of dreams. With potential life-changing happenings in their family, the sister-brother duo seeks out the Sandman (Omid Djalili) to see if he can grant their wish and save their family unit as they know it. However, getting a meeting with the Sandman is easier said than done, and confronting Nightmara (Gia Carides) is an idea that’s almost as scary as the life changes that may befall them.
With Woo at the helm with an original story he wrote alongside Erik Benson, In Your Dreams is a whimsical, heartfelt and often hilarious romp between reality and the dreamworld. The movie perfectly balances all these aspects, leaving you in your feels one moment and then laughing hysterically the next. From the moment In Your Dreams began, you could tell the story was very personal yet relatable. The story will connect with kids and adults alike, making for a great family movie day or even just a solo watch when you need a cry, a laugh, and some magic.
Of course, aside from the writing, none of this could work without the incredible voice cast. They truly bring the characters to life with ease. Jolie Hoang-Rappaport does a great job voicing Stevie. As the older sister, she’s more mature than her messy brother, Elliot, and she’s always trying to keep the peace between her parents, even when her experience dealing with her annoying little brother sometimes makes that task nearly impossible. Hoang-Rappaport does a fantastic job giving Stevie a voice and relatability that makes you attached to the character and root for her. As Elliot, Elias Janssen takes on the role of the bothersome little brother with ease. As mom and dad, Cristin Milioti and Simu Liu round out the family unit, providing some needed context to the family dynamics.
In addition, Craig Robinson voices Baloney Tony, Elliot’s stuffed animal, who comes to life in the dream world. Seeing the bond between him and Elliot is likely to remind viewers of their favourite stuffed animal growing up. As always, Robinson is hilarious in the role, but I do wish there was more Baloney Tony throughout the movie. Rounding out the cast are Omid Djalili as Sandman and Gia Carides as Nightmara. I can’t say much about the characters, as it’s best to experience them in the film. However, Djalili and Carides bring a lot of heart to their roles and were part of some of the film’s most thrilling moments.
Although the characters are great and the voice cast does a fantastic job with their respective characters, we don’t spend nearly enough time with some of them to build a bond or care about what happens to them. Aside from Stevie and Elliot, we don’t get nearly enough time with the rest of the characters, particularly mom and dad. It would have been nice to see more of their relationship and how they reached the precipice of it, as we see it in the movie, which is on the verge of a potential break-up. Perhaps a deep dive into some of this might not be the best for a kids’ movie, but given how the writing of In Your Dreams tackles other mature subjects in the film, this could have been handled just as well.
I would be remiss if I didn’t talk about the soundtrack for In Your Dreams. Combining a mix of recognizable favourites and even a song performed by Liu and Milioti. The film delivers through its choice of music, which fits the movie’s themes, but it also amplifies the specific scenes where the songs are heard. Paired with John Debney’s score, the music adds to the magic found in In Your Dreams.
While In Your Dreams might not be a perfect movie, there’s still a lot to love about the film, which does a fantastic job at explaining the importance of having a dream, while realistically tackling the fact that not every dream comes to fruition, and that is okay. It displays that dwelling on dreams and scenarios may not benefit the greater good, and shows that change doesn’t have to be scary; it can be necessary. While having a dream is great, we shouldn’t allow it to conflict with or change our realities. We still have to take the time to live in the present, and not solely dwell on dreams. In Your Dreams is a warm, welcome hug on a day when you might be feeling a little down, hitting you right in the feels while making you laugh.
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