Is this a sequel to The Lost Boys or License to Drive?

No, it's a completely standalone story. It just features the same lead duo (Feldman and Haim) because they were a packaged deal for studios at the time.

Why is Corey Feldman acting like Michael Jackson?

Feldman was close friends with Jackson at the time and heavily incorporated the singer's movements, mannerisms, and fashion into his performance. It's one of the most commented-on parts of the movie.

Is the plot actually as confusing as people say?

Yes. The mechanics of how the souls swap through meditation and dreams are never clearly explained, and the film prioritizes style and mood over a logical sequence of events.

Is there any '80s-specific' content I should worry about?

It’s a product of its time. You’ll see teenagers smoking and drinking in ways that wouldn't be in a PG-13 movie today, and some of the romantic dynamics are a bit dated, but there's nothing 'hard' R-rated.

Dream a Little Dream – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Dream a Little Dream

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

movie1989

48%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

A surreal 80s fever dream where an old man's consciousness hijacks Corey Feldman's body to the tune of a synth-heavy soundtrack.

5.7/10

67%

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Dream a Little Dream

movie

PG-13, 1989

48%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

A surreal 80s fever dream where an old man's consciousness hijacks Corey Feldman's body to the tune of a synth-heavy soundtrack.

5.7

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Screenwise Verdict

If you're looking for a coherent story, keep walking. Dream a Little Dream is a vibe-heavy, logic-light artifact from the tail end of the 80s. It’s famous mostly for being the peak of the Corey Feldman and Corey Haim era, and it leans hard into their specific brand of teenage bravado.

For a modern kid, this is going to feel like a slow-motion fever dream. The critics absolutely hated it for its messiness, but it’s maintained a cult following because it's just so uniquely weird. It's less Freaky Friday and more a strange meditation on aging and youth, wrapped in a denim jacket.

Age Fit

Best for 13 and up. Younger kids will be bored to tears by the slow pacing and confused by the metaphysical plot, while teens might appreciate the retro aesthetic and the 'Two Coreys' dynamic.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

It captures the messy, somewhat cynical energy of late-80s teen life. It isn't trying to be moralistic, and the body-swap premise leads to some uncomfortable boundary-pushing.

Imaginative

The surrealist, dream-logic sequences and the metaphysical experiment premise are genuinely weird and ambitious for a teen comedy.

Safe

Standard 80s PG-13 fare: expect teen smoking, drinking, some swearing, and suggestive themes. Nothing shocking, but it doesn't have a modern 'kids movie' filter.

Enriching

Beyond some vague themes about living in the moment and the value of experience, it’s mostly a vibes-based vehicle for its stars.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Peak Two Coreys energy for anyone wanting to see Feldman and Haim at the height of their late-80s cultural powers.
The surrealist visuals and dream sequences give it a much weirder, more artistic vibe than your average teen body-swap flick.
A killer nostalgia soundtrack featuring the titular song and plenty of saxophone-heavy 80s atmosphere.
It's a fascinating time capsule of 1989 fashion, slang, and the specific brand of 'cool' that doesn't exist anymore.

⚠

What to Watch For

The plot is notoriously incoherent; even adults find it hard to follow exactly how the meditation/accident mechanics work.
Typical 80s teen tropes like casual smoking, drinking at parties, and a bit of 'creeper' behavior that hasn't aged perfectly.
The pacing is sluggish compared to modern films, with long sequences that feel more like music videos than narrative progression.

Conversation Starters

"If you could swap lives with someone for a week to learn what they know, who would it be?"
"Why do you think Bobby was so unhappy with his own life before Coleman showed up?"
"What parts of the 'teenager' experience in 1989 look totally different from being a teenager today?"
"Does the movie make 'dreaming' look better than reality, or is the message the opposite?"

Deep Dive

The 'Two Coreys' Phenomenon

To understand why this movie exists, you have to understand the grip Corey Feldman and Corey Haim had on the late 80s. They were the ultimate package deal. In Dream a Little Dream, they aren't just actors; they are the entire draw. Feldman, in particular, spends a good chunk of the movie doing a very specific, very intentional Michael Jackson impression that is either mesmerizing or deeply confusing depending on your tolerance for 80s eccentricities.

Surrealism vs. Storytelling

Most body-swap movies follow a strict template: person A gets in person B's body, hilarity ensues, they learn a lesson, they swap back. This movie isn't interested in that. It uses a meditation accident involving Jason Robards (playing an elderly man trying to reach a state of 'dream reality') to facilitate the swap. The result is a film that feels more like a series of interconnected music videos and dream sequences than a standard narrative.

Why It’s a Hard Sell Now

While the soundtrack is great and the visuals are occasionally striking, the movie suffers from a lack of focus. It’s 114 minutes long, which is an eternity for a teen comedy with this little plot. If you're introducing it to your kids, do it as a historical curiosity or a 'weird cinema' night. It’s not a 'must-watch' for the story, but it is a 'must-watch' if you want to see exactly what happened when 80s teen stardom was given a blank check and a bottle of hairspray.

What Parents Ask

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Fun 80s Movies to Watch with Your Family

by Stacey Wallenstein · 58 picks

Stacey Wallenstein's 80s movie nights from The Mint Chip Mama (themintchipmama.com), the PG titles first and then the PG-13 ones. Troop Beverly Hills is a fan favorite, The Goonies made the cut although she finds it scary, and she warns that an 80s PG can surprise you, as Innerspace did.

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