The new animated adventure-comedy “In Your Dreams” is taking on a subject rarely explored in the genre: the genuine pain of family conflict. The film, opening Friday, is directed by Pixar veteran Alex Woo and stars Simu Liu and Cristin Milioti as a couple whose marriage is failing.
This central conflict is seen through the eyes of their children, Stevie (Jolie Hoang-Rappaport) and Elliot (Elias Janssen). In a desperate attempt to fix their family, the siblings embark on a quest to find The Sandman, believing he has the magic to solve their parents’ problems. This fantastical journey is animated by Sony Pictures Imageworks.
Simu Liu, the ‘Shang-Chi’ star, was a passionate advocate for the film’s premise. He explained that he was “fascinated” by the opportunity to show a family that argues, rejecting the “false” narrative of the “always happy” family. “It’s just not true,” Liu said, adding, “it’s important that kids have imagery of families that aren’t perfect.”
The cast also includes Craig Robinson as the voice of a stuffed animal, Baloney Tony. Despite the heavy subject matter, the film has moments of levity and beauty, including a “really great” duet between Liu and Milioti, which the Grammy-winning actress called a “beautiful moment.”
The film’s resolution is one of maturation. Stevie, the young protagonist, must accept a hard truth. As Hoang-Rappaport explains, her character “grapples with the discovery that there is no magic solution to real-life problems.” “In Your Dreams” offers a compassionate, honest look at a difficult subject.