A magical quest to solve a painfully real problem is at the heart of the new animated film “In YourDreams,” opening in theaters Friday. The adventure-comedy from Netflix centers on sister Stevie and brother Elliot, voiced by Jolie Hoang-Rappaport and Elias Janssen, respectively. When they realize their parents’ marriage is falling apart, they embark on an extraordinary journey to find The Sandman, convinced he holds the power to magically save their family.
This blend of fantasy and harsh reality comes from director Alex Woo, whose resume includes work on Pixar hits like “WALL·E” and “Ratatouille.” Animated by Sony Pictures Imageworks, the film uses its vibrant dream-world setting to explore the complex emotions of children navigating adult conflict. The film asks a poignant question: What happens when the magic runs out?
The parents at the center of the conflict are voiced by superstars Simu Liu (‘Shang-Chi’) and Cristin Milioti (‘Once’). Liu explained that he was drawn to the film because it depicts a family that argues. He passionately rejected the “always happy” family trope seen in many children’s films as “not true” and argued that “it’s important that kids have imagery of families that aren’t perfect.”
The voice cast also includes Craig Robinson as Baloney Tony, a stuffed animal who joins the children’s adventure. Adding to the film’s emotional weight is a duet between Liu and Milioti. The Grammy-winning Milioti praised the song, which shows the strained couple in a rare moment of unity, as a “really great” and “beautiful moment” that highlights what the children are fighting to preserve.
Ultimately, the quest for The Sandman leads to a profound realization for the protagonist, Stevie. She must learn, as Hoang-Rappaport puts it, that “there is no magic solution to real-life problems.” The film’s touching conclusion is not about finding a magic fix, but about embracing the messy, imperfect truth that fixing things takes more than a dream and that life doesn’t always follow a plan.