Netflix’s latest animated fantasy, In Your Dreams, arrives with a pedigree that might set expectations sky-high. Directed by Alex Woo—best known for his storytelling work on Pixar hits such as Ratatouille, WALL-E, and Incredibles 2—this visually vibrant film promises a journey through surreal dream worlds. However, for all its kaleidoscopic spectacle, the movie struggles to break free from the shadow of its animated predecessors.
Story
The story centers on Stevie (voiced by Jolie Hoang-Rappaport), a sharp and determined 12-year-old navigating the emotional storm of her parents’ impending separation. Once a local indie music duo called the Hypsonics, Stevie’s mother (Cristin Milioti) now plans to relocate to Duluth for an academic career, while her father (Simu Liu) drifts through life tinkering with an unfinished album. Financial instability makes the split seem inevitable, leaving Stevie desperate to keep the family intact. Sharing a cramped bedroom with her younger brother Elliot (Elias Janssen), she seeks refuge in a fantastical realm of dreams—an idea that sounds fresh but quickly recalls the emotional blueprint of Inside Out.
Characters
Within this dream universe, the film introduces a gallery of eccentric characters. Elliot’s stuffed giraffe, Baloney Tony, bursts to life with wisecracks delivered by Craig Robinson—a performance that risks echoing the comedic sidekicks of Shrek. Stevie and Elliot travel through fantastical set pieces, riding a magically animated bed in a nod to Disney’s Bedknobs and Broomsticks, before meeting the Sandman (Omid Djalili), a mystical overseer of the dream world whose cheery demeanor hints at a more sinister side.
Behind the scenes
Scenes unfold as a series of high-energy dreamscapes: a cardboard kingdom ruled by sentient breakfast foods, lands that sour into nightmares, and montages set to well-worn music cues, including Eurythmics’ “Sweet Dreams” and Metallica’s “Enter Sandman.” While these sequences dazzle in animation, they often feel disconnected from the characters’ real-world struggles, limiting emotional impact. The dream rules—such as Stevie waking whenever Elliot does—are presented as arbitrary, further weakening the stakes.
As the plot progresses, the Sandman offers the siblings a perfect dream designed to repair their fractured family. But the resolution hinges on whether they would choose a blissful illusion over reality—a potentially rich philosophical question that the film fails to explore deeply. Instead, the narrative opts for a rapid-fire succession of visual spectacles, leaving thematic depth underdeveloped.
Final Verdict
At just 77 minutes without credits, In Your Dreams delivers a rush of imaginative imagery but lacks the inventive storytelling that made Pixar’s best work resonate. It’s an animated feature with plenty of surface charm—vivid colors, energetic pacing, and whimsical character designs—but it ultimately feels like a patchwork of familiar ideas rather than a groundbreaking journey into the subconscious.
Netflix’s In Your Dreams is worth watching for its artistry and humor, yet it may leave audiences yearning for a more original, emotionally cohesive adventure.
