In Your Dreams

Welp, we only made it ten minutes into the movie before they started in with the dumb dad trope. I'm so tired of every modern family movie having this stereotype. And of course he's also presented as a deadbeat man-child who can't be trusted while his wife is out of town. Why is it so hard to make a movie with two loving, supportive parents that don't portray negative stereotypes?

This is a surreal thrill ride for kids, but I guarantee that millennial parents will love it too. It has a lot of quick jokes and references to pop culture that will entertain all parents. If this came out when I was a kid I would have loved it. It's weird and bizarre, it packed with hilarious one-liners, and it's genuinely touching.

This is a movie about two siblings who keep jumping into the dream world, and they encounter every dream scenario you can think of while trying to help their parents. It has some emotional parts but none of it too sad or complex, so it's good for all ages. I think this has some good lessons and it will connect with kids and parents on many levels.

"In Your Dreams" is a light, colorful animated adventure that builds its world on an undeniably charming premise. There's a playful imagination at the heart of the film - vibrant dreamscapes, quirky characters, and a tone that balances whimsy with gentle emotion. It's the kind of movie that clearly means well, and when it leans into its creativity, it can be genuinely delightful.

The visual style carries much of the weight. The dream sequences are fun to look at, filled with inventive details that make the world feel alive even when the story doesn't always keep up. The animation has personality, even if it's not quite polished enough to compete with the genre's top tier. The soundtrack supports the mood nicely, adding an airy energy that fits the film's playful spirit.

Where the movie falls short is in its storytelling. The plot is straightforward - sometimes a little too straightforward - and the emotional beats rarely land with much force. The characters are likable enough, but they don't get the depth or development needed to fully connect. The humor works here and there, offering small laughs, but it often feels safe and predictable rather than genuinely clever.

Still, "In Your Dreams" has an easygoing charm. It's pleasant, harmless, and sweet, with just enough creativity to keep it from fading into mediocrity.

In the end, it's a mildly enjoyable, nicely animated film that entertains without ever becoming truly remarkable.

Netflix's new animated film, In Your Dreams, arrives in the catalog surrounded by expectations. Not only because it shares the same release year with another possible contender from the studio, K-Pop Warriors, but also because it marks Alex Woo's directorial debut. Although it is his first feature film as a director, Woo brings with him a background that arouses curiosity: years working as a story artist at Pixar on films such as Ratatouille, WALL-E, Finding Dory, The Incredibles 2, and The Good Dinosaur. Add to that the fact that the production is signed by Kuku Studios, founded by former Pixar employees, and it's clear why the film already has a familiar feel to it.

And that familiarity is both a strength and a weakness. Woo has stated that he sought direct inspiration from his years of experience at Pixar, and the film does carry much of the studio's emotional, visual, and narrative identity. However, while this influence brings security, it also leaves In Your Dreams stuck in the shadow of the works it honors. The result is a competent and sensitive film that struggles to find its voice.

In Your Dreams is a film that entertains, moves you at times, and demonstrates the potential of a studio that is still finding its artistic maturity. But it is also a work that limits itself. The structure is familiar, the fantasy could be bolder, and the family drama could go deeper. The final impression is that of a film that has heart and good ideas, but avoids taking risks, always staying too safe to reach the emotional and narrative climax it seemed headed for.

Even so, it should be a strong contender for an Oscar. Not necessarily because it is one of the most memorable animations of the year, but because Netflix has historically been a strong contender in this category during awards season. In Your Dreams is derivative, but also promising. Imperfect, but engaging. A firm step forward for the studio that produced it and a reminder that sometimes, even in dreams, growing up hurts a little.

I'm not going to lie you'll notice a lot of cliche things about this & in this film but it's cliche with a hint of oomph to it. I had high expectations for this film and expected something uniquely spectacular just by the title, so i was kind of disappointed to find out that film simply revolved around a modernized version of the Sandman".

However that doesn't change that fact that this movie still had a lot of good & heartwarming scenes, especially between two siblings. I wouldn't rate it the best but it's far from the worst. This movie was definitely still enjoyable. I'll rate it a fair 6.