The upcoming animated feature “In Your Dreams” is poised to shatter the “happily ever after” myth, thanks in large part to the advocacy of its star, Simu Liu. The Canadian actor, best known for his Marvel role, voices the father in the new adventure-comedy from Netflix and Sony Pictures Imageworks. The film, directed by Pixar alum Alex Woo, explores the messy reality of a family struggling with conflict and the potential for separation.
Liu has been vocal about his passion for the project, which he joined after a compelling pitch from director Woo. “The way that families are depicted… is this idea that families are always happy, always smiling. They never fight. And it’s just not true,” Liu stated. He strongly believes that it is “important that kids have imagery of families that aren’t perfect,” a mission that “In Your Dreams” squarely addresses.
The film’s plot provides a perfect vehicle for this theme. It follows siblings Stevie (Jolie Hoang-Rappaport) and Elliot (Elias Janssen) on a desperate quest. Believing their parents’ marriage is failing, they travel into a fantastical dream world to locate The Sandman, hoping he can provide a magical “fix.” This adventure frames the children’s emotional struggle to understand and process the adult problems unfolding around them.
The ensemble cast adds significant depth to this story. Cristin Milioti, an Emmy and Grammy winner, plays the Mom, while Craig Robinson (“The Office”) voices Baloney Tony, a stuffed animal. A standout moment for Milioti was a duet she performs with Liu. This song captures a fleeting moment of harmony for the troubled couple, which Milioti called a “beautiful moment” in the film.
The film’s resolution avoids easy answers. Stevie, the young protagonist, must confront the reality that there are no magical solutions. As Hoang-Rappaport described, her character starts out thinking “I can fix this on my own,” but her journey teaches her a more complex truth. “In Your Dreams” concludes that real family problems require more than wishes, reinforcing the very realism that first attracted Liu to the project.