DREAM A LITTLE DREAM (1989)

DREAM A LITTLE DREAM (1989)

Tagline : With dreams like these who needs reality?
(Comedy, Drama, Romance) [PG-13]

Well, thank you for a frightening, confusing, strange and dangerous time…. 

In this one an old scientist Coleman Ettinger (played by Jason Robards, probably best known for THE DAY AFTER) is trying to break through reality into the dream world using science and faith. His wife isn’t really down with his experiment but decides to join him on a meditation sort of attempt to break the barrier. The event is interrupted by Lainie Diamond (played by Meredith Salenger most known for VILLIAGE OF THE DAMNED and LAKE PLACID among others) and Bobby Keller (played by Corey Feldman know for a ton of awesome 80’s movies, GREMLINS, THE GOONIES etc), who crash into each other. The next morning when Bobby wakes up, Coleman is inside his body. It doesn’t take long before he realizes at least part of his wife Gena is in Lainie’s body. I say part because the film explains that Gena didn’t have as much “faith” in the experiment as Coleman did, so Lainie has a harder time realizing what is going on. Now Coleman must adjust to life in Bobby’s body and get Lainie to believe him before time runs out. The clock is ticking even in dreams. 

Overall the acting in this movie is superb all the way around. Even the antagonist (who is actually Bobby’s friend in the movie) is great in the role. We end up with a few weird 80’s things happening, like Corey Feldman insisting that his role be a bit obsessed with Michael Jackson even doing a pretty decent dance scene in the movie. Lainie (the character) is doing a dance with a top hat at the school gym by herself for no apparent reason at all. At least no reason was given in the script. However, overall the story line is heartfelt, imaginative and incredibly heartwarming. There are some interesting director choices showing the two Cory’s (Feldman and Haim) having conversations that feel choppy and even some of the editing during the movie feels like they skipped shots. Even with that this movie comes together as a bit quirky but I kind of loved that about it. It doesn’t waste time moving from scene to scene. We don’t need to know the exact route Bobby took to Lainie’s house or any of that to understand what is going on. 

Just some tid-bits : I didn’t mention this earlier but Corey Haim is in this movie but not as much as the movies poster would make you think. His role was apparently kind of shoved into the movie because of Lala Sloatman (who plays Shelley, Bobby’s girlfriend in the movie). Sloatman only agreed to be in the movie if Haim was involved. Haim had a broken leg at the time, so the whole movie is show with his character having a broken leg. 

I think what made me love this thing so much is the acting, the intriguing and fun out of the box story line and that freakin soundtrack. I mean this movie has one of the better soundtracks of the 80’s. All of the roles feel perfectly cast even down to both sets of parents. 

I try to not take into account what is going on in the personal lives of the actors or actresses of each movie I review. I want to look at each movie as it is presented and I simply don’t have time to investigate or judge every little “so and so was doing this or that” situation, so without further ado. 

For me this is an easy 7 out of 7 and I think everyone should own a copy. Don’t do a lot of bending over backwards to find issues with the supernatural/science side of it, and you will have a lot more fun. It's a bit of a cult gem for good reason.

GRAPHICS ARE THE PROPERTY OF COLUMBIA PICTURES AND ARE USED FOR REVIEW PURPOSES ONLY.  

Please check out the link below by clicking on the picture. Because no one should die buttonless. Until next time.