Simu Liu is championing his new animated film “In Your Dreams” for a reason that goes beyond simple entertainment. The star, who voices the father, believes “it’s important that kids have imagery of families that aren’t perfect.” He was “fascinated” by the film’s script because it embraced the “necessary message” that “real families fight,” directly confronting the “false” narrative of the “always happy” family.
Liu’s comments highlight the film’s refreshingly honest approach to the family genre. The adventure-comedy, which opens Friday, doesn’t shy away from depicting conflict. Instead, it uses the struggles of its central family as the driving force of its plot, validating the experiences of countless children who see friction in their own homes and may feel alone in that experience.
The plot follows the children of the family, Stevie (Jolie Hoang-Rappaport) and Elliot (Elias Janssen), as they try to cope with the tension between their parents (Liu and Cristin Milioti). In a classic childhood fantasy, they embark on a quest to find The Sandman, believing he can magically solve their parents’ adult problems. The film also features Craig Robinson as Baloney Tony.
Despite the central conflict, the film is balanced with humor and warmth, under the direction of “Ratatouille” alum Alex Woo. A “beautiful” duet between Liu and Milioti, for instance, provides a moment of harmony. Cristin Milioti praised the song as “really great,” underscoring the love that complicates the family’s disagreements.
The film’s dedication to realism culminates in its powerful conclusion. The children’s quest does not result in a magical cure. The young hero, Stevie, learns the mature lesson that “there is no magic solution to real-life problems.” “In Your Dreams” delivers on Liu’s hope, offering a heartfelt, honest, and important story for modern families.