'In Your Dreams' Review: A Heartfelt Netflix Charmer
Netflix animation aims to deliver another refreshing crowd-pleaser with ‘In Your Dreams’, a refreshing and heartfelt family film about dreams, nightmares and everything in between.
‘In Your Dreams’ centers on two siblings named Stevie (Jolie Hoang-Rappaport) and Elliot (Elias Janssen) who, after learning that their parents are struggling financially and drifting apart from one another, journey into the world of their dreams where they aim to find the Sandman (Omid Djalili) in order to get their wish of having the perfect family again. However, they soon learn that they should always be careful what they wish for. With a fun, original premise and a strong voice cast that also includes Simu Liu and Cristin Millioti, the recipe for success was as clear as day. Fortunately, directors Erik Benson and Alexander Woo make full use of this terrific concept and deliver a family film that should appeal to both younger and older audiences.
First and foremost, the animation here is simply stunning. Not only are the characters and environments, especially within the world of Elliot and Stevie’s dreams, richly detailed and wonderfully animated, but the visual flourishes are off the charts. The dream world is beautifully rendered and meticulously brought to life, populated with eclectic and colorful characters like Baloney Tony (Craig Robinson) that are sure to delight viewers and make them smile from ear to ear. The dream world is vibrant, grand in scope, and wholly immersive, aided by stellar sound design that sweeps over and fully envelops the viewer as it makes superb use of the sound stage. The action set pieces are also incredibly dynamic, entertaining and well-staged, Benson and Woo making each of them feel singular and distinct compared to one another. Fortunately, they’re also able to ensure that the real world becomes just as compelling as the dream world.
The first act of the film does a commendable job establishing the core family dynamics between Elliot, Stevie and their parents. There are fleeting moments of joy between the four of them, but the magic that Stevie especially craves to feel again is dimming more and more with each passing day. Her mother’s possible new job and the fizzle of her parents’ romance may turn the siblings’ life upside down, possibly taking them to a new city and leaving their old life in the rearview. The sharp focus on this in the first act makes it easy for the audience to emotionally invest in the siblings as they try to literally fight their way through their nightmares in order to save their family. It also doesn’t hurt that the pairing of Elliot and Stevie is deeply entertaining to watch, anchored by strong, charming voice work from Rappaport and Janssen.
At its core, this is a film about a brother and sister who wholeheartedly love one another even if they don’t openly say it and get on each other’s nerves more times than they can count. Their relationship is not only very relatable, but serves as a stellar access point for anyone who has had an older or younger sibling growing up. This story is as much about the power of dreams as it is about how family can be the most valuable asset one can have when life begins to throw nasty curveballs or unexpected turns their way. Centering the story on this brother and sister was an inspired choice and watching the two grow closer and more intimately connected with one another as their journey gets more arduous and surreal is by far and way the most compelling element of the film. In turn, they become the warm beating heart of the story.
The film also has a winning blend of humor and heart that makes it an ideal film for the whole family. There’s plenty of silly slapstick humor for younger children, but also a considerable amount of clever and edgier material that will appear to older viewers. At times, it becomes reminiscent of the Disney films of the 80s and 90s, family films that knew had to appeal to children, but also weren’t afraid to delve into darker material that adults could sink their teeth into. This especially rings true when the film showcases the nightmares of Elliot and Stevie coming to life before their eyes to torment them. However, it’s the heart of the film that is sure to win most families over, wearing it earnestly on its sleeve throughout as it explores a family banding together in order to come to terms with their world changing, unsure of what the future will hold.
Unfortunately, the film isn’t without its fair share of issues. For one, the parents aren’t very fleshed out here, Liu and Millioti doing their best to elevate underwritten characters that deserved far more screen time together. They often feel sidelined throughout the story, a disappointing development considering the potential of their heartbreaking storyline and the respective talent giving them life. Speaking of underdeveloped, it’s a shame the Sandman barely registers as a character here. Despite a great character design and solid voice performance from Djalili, the iconic figure doesn’t have much to do other than being a two-dimensional antagonist. As a result, there was an immense amount of narrative and emotional potential left on the table in regards to his character.
In Your Dreams is one of the year’s most notable pleasant surprises, taking a fun, original concept and delivering a heartfelt and very entertaining family film that doesn’t try to shove its messaging down the viewer’s throat. This is a tender, vulnerable and passionately made animated film about how even when life’s difficulties, challenges and changes rear their ugly heads, real life will always be better than the most perfect dreams anyone can conjure, especially if they have the right people in their lives to lean on.