'In Your Dreams' movie review: Warm, occasionally dark, portrait of family life

In a style very reminiscent of Pixar’s various offerings, comes a Netflix original that is short, sweet and full of fun — an ideal family weekend watch. ‘In Your Dreams’ features an endearing brother-sister duo grappling with fears about their family and future, in both, a dream world and in reality. 

The film was directed by Alex Woo, who previously worked as a storyboard artist on Pixar’s ‘Ratatouille’, ‘WALL-E’ and ‘Cars 2’. No wonder then, that ‘In Your Dreams’ seems like a distant spin-off of ‘Inside Out’, at certain points, and ‘Coco’ at others. 

What does manage to set the film apart is a strong script — the opening scene holds a great deal of promise, for a funny, intriguing narration. However, the film does fail to hold interest throughout, with some characters and jokes beginning to seem grating.

But there are several saving graces. The soundtrack is cheery, engaging and familiar in a good way. Dance sequences and serious montages alike are lifted by this background score. It also cuts through the slower middle part of the movie. 

What must be praised is how the film depicts a realistic family context — parents that may disagree with each other, children that feel an unfair burden of fixing conflicts, and uncertainty about the future. A great deal of effort has gone into the storywriting, to ensure the mix of comedy and adventure does not take away from the heaviness and anxieties of the overarching theme. The resolution also demonstrates how striving for a perfect version of reality could backfire. In all, the film offers a simple, comforting message — even if your family has flaws, there is hope that things will work out in the end.

The themes, though discussed with nuance, are quite intense and may not be suitable for very young viewers. Scenes of the dream world, nightmares and the Sandman are dark and shadowy, so discretion is advised.