In Your Dreams feels a lot like Inside Out: After Hours — and I don’t mean some Cinemax version of the Pixar classic. In Your Dreams delves into the psychology of family relationships and how they shape who we become. Plus the whole Minnesota thing and even an imagined childhood friend riding a rocket.
If you’re going to emulate a movie, you may as well emulate one of the best family films ever made. In Your Dreams doesn’t quite reach the Inside Out stratosphere, but it is worthy of your family movie night.
It’s about siblings who team up — and dream up a plan to save their struggling family. You see, one of their parents never escaped his dream of being a musician. The mom moved on from the dream and has settled in to her post-music life as a teacher.
The kids discover a book that lets them pursue their dream of a perfect family. The sister remembers a time before her brother when things were better. Don’t worry, though, it never reaches that screenwriter crutch of a trope where the sister suddenly becomes evil and wishes away her brother.
I’m lookin’ at you, Labyrinth.
Instead, the siblings learn to work together, and the sister begins to understand how critical her little brother is to her life. He’s also a critical part of the movie because he’s hilarious.
In Your Dreams is a legitimately funny movie. You’ll find recurring situational jokes, slapstick physical humor (with the sister taking the brunt of it), and funny one-liners.
That’s it — I’m looking up the writers. I need to know who put this together.
<pause for research>
I’m back. And it all makes sense. Writers Alexander Woo and Erik Benson worked on art for Pixar. Benson even wrote The Good Dinosaur — an underrated Pixar movie. They co-direct In Your Dreams.
You see the Pixar DNA imprinted on the story: Figure out what the character wants most, then throw the opposite at them. The character is the sister. Her brother is the opposite force. Together, they go on sleep-induced adventures through a wonderfully designed dream world.
You won’t need a line of shots to dumb yourself down for this film. A session IPA or two will let the humor and heart wash over you.
🎬🎬🎬
Where to watch
Rating: PG (Me: 6+)
Director: Erik Benson
Starring: Jolie Hoang-Rappaport, Elias Janssen, Craig Robinson, Simu Liu, Cristin Milioti
Run time: 1h 30m
Post-credits scenes: A quick gag.
Sequel? Nothing announced.
If you liked In Your Dreams, check out these films:
- Inside Out (2015) (5+)
- Rise of the Guardians (2012) (4+)
- Mirai (2018) (5+)
- Little Nemo: Adventures in Slumberland (1989) (6+)
See more Pint-Sized Reviews
Find this title on the Family Film Recommendations list
