Simu Liu, the star of Marvel’s “Shang-Chi,” is using his platform to promote a new message in children’s media: imperfection is normal. Liu stars in the new animated film “In Your Dreams,” and his decision to join the project was driven by a desire to show a “real family that argues.” The film, which opens in theaters on Friday, is a departure from the “fairy tale” narratives often sold to young audiences.
“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 explained. He stressed the importance of this new film, which gives kids “imagery of families that aren’t perfect.” In “In Your Dreams,” Liu voices the father of a family struggling with marital conflict, a reality many children face.
The story follows the children, Stevie (Jolie Hoang-Rappaport) and Elliot (Elias Janssen), who try to solve their parents’ adult problems with childhood magic. They embark on an adventure to find The Sandman, believing he can magically restore their parents’ marriage. This plot, from director Alex Woo (a Pixar alum), sets the stage for a powerful lesson in reality.
The cast is filled with talent, including Cristin Milioti as the Mom and Craig Robinson as Baloney Tony, a stuffed animal. Milioti, a Grammy winner, performs a duet with Liu in the film, a moment she described as “beautiful” and “really great,” offering a glimpse of the harmony the family has lost. The film was animated by Sony Pictures Imageworks.
The film’s emotional climax isn’t a magical fix, but a personal realization. Stevie, the young hero, must accept that “there is no magic solution to real-life problems.” Her journey ends with the same truth Liu championed: real families fight, and navigating that truth is a more valuable lesson than pretending the conflict doesn’t exist.