“If you can dream it, you can do it.”

In Your Dreams might be the only movie this year where big belly laughs and moments of silence were genuinely shared between myself and the family I am jointly building. My fiancée loved the character details, her son kept asking questions about nightmares and dreams, and I sat in the middle making sense of their sentiments while fielding the questions with quick pitch answers. It’s a movie that feels real even though it’s animated, and it’s one that cleverly captures the curiosity of children without forgetting the at times harsh realties of adulthood. I wish it had been more original and less rushed in the final act, but my complaints aren’t worth sending the whole thing back. Sit back and enjoy.

It feels intentional that the perfectionist Stevie (Jolie Hoang-Rappaport) is 12 and not yet a teen; she still has room for her imagination to roam. That quality is necessary, mostly because her little brother Elliot (Elias Janssen) has an AYCE buffet bouncing around inside his head, causing Stevie headaches and frustration while providing a few laughs here and there. And then Mom and Dad fight. He holds onto the past where music was their livelihood. She is drastically more realistic, knowing that the bills must be paid. We hope that they will reconcile but know the likelihood doesn’t look promising. Add in an ancient book Elliot finds in a store’s roped off area and into their dreams the siblings go.

The two navigate their dreams and their quest to find the Sandman (Omid Djalili), believing he can grant their ultimate wish: to keep their family together and make them happy again. But thwarting their efforts is the frightening Nightmara (Gia Carides), forcing them to open their eyes and back into reality. They’re bullish though, trying again and again, even enlisting the help of Elliot’s smelly, stitched together stuffed animal Baloney Tony (Craig Robinson), fulfilling here basically the same role as Inside Out’s Bing Bong or Shrek’s Donkey. He’s the wisecracking comedy relief with a soft spot and a stench. Mom and Dad might even have to trek into the dreams to lend a hand or two.

While the last act feels underdeveloped, with characters simply appearing or motivations not fully fleshed out, In Your Dreams never lacks for the heartfelt moments where these individuals must make crucial, selfless decisions. This movie teaches teamwork, emphasizes listening, and encourages viewers to dream big whilst understanding how important it is to never sever ties with reality. It’s just as okay to be angry and sad as it is to be over the moon and elated, not just In Your Dreams, but in life as a whole. This is a quality, family friendly adventure through and through.

“You’re better than any dream.”

Rating: 4 out of 5