Comedian Craig Robinson (“The Office”) and Marvel star Simu Liu are lending their voices to “In Your Dreams,” a new animated adventure-comedy opening Friday. Robinson voices a stuffed animal named Baloney Tony, while Liu plays a father in a struggling marriage. The film, from Netflix, is directed by Pixar alum Alex Woo.
The story centers on the children of Liu’s character, Stevie (Jolie Hoang-Rappaport) and Elliot (Elias Janssen). Desperate to save their parents’ relationship, they seek out The Sandman for a magical solution. Robinson’s Baloney Tony joins them on this fantastical quest, which is animated by Sony Pictures Imageworks.
The film is notable for its realistic approach to family. Simu Liu was “fascinated” by the script’s honesty, stating that the “always happy” family trope is “not true.” He argued, “I think it’s important that kids have imagery of families that aren’t perfect.”
The film also stars Emmy and Grammy winner Cristin Milioti as the Mom. Milioti highlighted a “beautiful moment” where she and Liu sing a duet, showing the strained couple in a rare moment of harmony.
The film’s message is one of acceptance. Stevie, the protagonist, must learn that “there is no magic solution to real-life problems.” Her journey to understand that life doesn’t always go as planned is the film’s core, making “In Your Dreams” a comedy with a powerful, realistic heart.