As a Netflix exclusive, this film focuses on a 12-year-old girl named Stevie, who lives with her loving parents and 8-year-old brother, Eliot. Her mom gets a job interview out of town. Her father stays behind with her and Eliot.

Stevie and Eliot go to a library and discover an enchanted book that claims it can make dreams come true. The 2 kids must fall asleep and be inside their dreams together.

To reach the Sandman, who promises to make their dreams come true, the children must get through nightmares. It’s tough, but they power through it.

Below are the strengths and weaknesses of this film.

Strengths

1: The overall concept

Aside from focusing on dreams, both deep desires and unconscious thoughts, the story also emphasizes the importance of family. Stevie doesn’t want her parents to get divorced. So, she does everything she can to prevent it by meeting the Sandman.

2: Stevie and Eliot as big sister and little brother

Like many little boys, both in movies and real life, Eliot loves annoying Stevie and gets pleasure from her reactions.

Unlike other films, though, Eliot tries to show Stevie a magic trick, even when she’s busy. Despite his annoyance, Eliot does love Stevie and protects her whenever necessary.

3: The “Don’t Cha” parody sung by the arcade animatronics

If you grew up in the 2000s, you might remember the song by the Pussycat Dolls, “Don’t Cha.” While the family is in an arcade, there are some animatronics singing a parody of the song. But “girlfriend” was swapped out with “pizza.” Even funnier, an animatronic animal wearing a bikini top sang it. She went, “Don’t cha wish your pizza was hot like me?” LOL.

Weakness

1: The pacing was slow sometimes

Even though this movie engaged me, less time had passed then I had thought during certain parts of this film. But that’s a minor issue.

Overall impression

I really enjoyed In Your Dreams. It is a mix of education about dreams and entertainment.

I give it 4.5 out of 5 stars.