‘In Your Dreams’ Review – An Undeniably Fun Adventure Infused With A Nostalgic Vibe

Logline: Stevie and her brother Elliot who 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.

As much as your siblings may annoy you to no end, if you’re close enough, they will be there for you when you need them the most. From saving you from a school bully to helping fight against evil, they’re always there for you in a pinch. Make sure to tell them that they are appreciated, that you love them, and most importantly, that they are a huge loser and their breath smells like doody.

“Lately, all my dreams keep turning into nightmares.”

Dreams are always better when you can share them with others; who better than family? Co-written and directed by Alex Woo, In Your Dreams is an undeniably fun adventure infused with a nostalgic vibe. Immediately giving you a glimpse into the mind and imagination of its young protagonist, the film is eye-catching, surprisingly hilarious, and spiritually feels akin to the movies many of us grew up on from the ’80s and ’90s. Featuring a superb balance of positive themes, relatable conflict, and excitement, In Your Dreams is a win for the whole family.

Alive with magic, wonder, and animation that almost rivals Pixar, this may be a quest to find the Sandman, but there’s nothing sleepy about it. Feeling reminiscent of classics such as The Brave Little Toaster, The Pagemaster, All Dogs Go to Heaven, with a touch of The Wizard of Oz, the film harkens back to a time when children received important and often transparent, easy-to-understand messages with their entertainment. With the goal of achieving what they have yet to recognize doesn’t exist — the perfect family — siblings Stevie and Elliot learn important lessons along the way and realize that everything isn’t always as it seems. This story is one of growth, love, togetherness, and acceptance. And thanks to Elliot and Baloney Tony, you’ll be constantly laughing when you’re not caught in the waves of warmth and emotions.

“Life isn’t perfect, and neither are we.”

Jumping between reality and the Dreamverse, the film’s animation is vibrant and imaginative yet grounded. It lacks texture in some cases, but the movement mechanics and attention to detail are fantastic. The Alex Woo direction is sound, and its use of music heightens various scenes. The jokes and gags are silly, and as those classic dream scenarios, like your teeth falling out, occur, you’ll be endlessly entertained. It’s funny, heartwarming, and a great introduction to difficult conversations. Dreams may be preferred, but as the film relays, nightmares make us strong. Its rewatchability is high.

Pace & Pop

The pacing of this film couldn’t be any better. Wasting no time racing to its world of fantasy and adventure, maintaining high energy and hilarious happenings throughout is a clear priority. They definitely understand the attention span of today’s young people. What pops more than anything else is its nostalgic feel. There’s nothing visually nostalgic, but the story feels like a blast from the past.

Character & Chemistry

Starring: Jolie Hoang-Rappaport, Elias Janssen, Cristin Milioti, Simu Liu, Craig Robinson, Omid Djalili, Gia Carides

Jolie Hoang-Rappaport and Elias Janssen, as siblings Stevie and Elliot, respectively, do a phenomenal job capturing the enthusiasm, curiosity, and naivety of children. Janssen’s Elliot, along with Craig Robinson’s Baloney Tony, steal each scene with great comedic timing and hilarious delivery. Cristin Milioti and Simu Liu deliver solid performances, but their roles as the parents are underwritten, failing to leverage the star power and talent their names suggest. And after witnessing Omid Djalili as the Sandman and Gia Carides as Nightmara, I can easily see a sequel being born from this.

In Your Dreams is now playing in select theaters and will premiere on Netflix on November 14, 2025. Stay safe and dream bigger.

Rated: PG Runtime: 1h 31m Director: Alex Woo Co-director: Erik Benson Screenplay: Erik Benson, Alex Woo Created by: Alex Woo, Stanley Moore Producers: Timothy Hahn, p.g.a., Gregg Taylor, p.g.a. Production Design: Steve Pilcher VFX Supervisor: Nicola Lavender Head of Character Animation: Sebastian Kapijmpanga