Get movie widget Recommend it Add to Favorites

Corey Feldman, Meredith Salenger, Jason Robards, Piper Laurie, Harry Dean Stanton ... see more see more... , William McNamara , Corey Haim , Matt Adler , Susan Blakely , John Ford Coley , Josh Evans , Victoria Jackson , Laura Lee Norton , Alex Rocco , Lala Sloatman , Russell Livingstone , Ria Pavia , Fran Taylor , Mickey Thomas

In 1987-88, a quartet of films with the same basic body-switching premise deluged theaters: Like Father, Like Son (1987), Big (1988), Vice Versa (1988), and 18 Again (1988). One year later, Dream a Li... read more read more...ttle Dream (1989) followed suit. Coleman Ettinger (Jason Robards) is forever scolding the local high school students who use his yard as a shortcut to and from their nearby school. Coleman is not a crotchety old coot, however. He's deeply in love with his wife Gena (Piper Laurie) and is good friends with his next-door neighbor Ike (Harry Dean Stanton). In fact, Coleman is looking for a mystical way to preserve his and Gena's lives forever by transferring their consciousness into the bodies of younger people. One day, student Bobby Keller (Corey Feldman) has a bicycle mishap with Coleman while cutting through the yard, and their minds change places. Now Coleman has the brain of a teenager, while young Bobby uses Coleman's wisdom and life experience to win over the girl of his dreams. Dream a Little Dream was the directorial debut of Marc Rocco, son of actor Alex Rocco, who costars in a supporting role. ~ Karl Williams, Rovi

Flixster Users

65% liked it

9,045 ratings

Critics

0% liked it

9 critics

PG-13, 1 hr. 54 min.

Directed by: Marc Rocco

Release Date: March 3, 1989

Invite friends to see

DVD Release Date: October 21, 2003

Get It:
 

Stats: 554 reviews

Your Rating



clear rating

Flixster Reviews (554)


  • April 10, 2011
    A strange, but fun tale of body switching, and it's got both Coreys! I highly recommend it, it's a great teen movie.
  • May 13, 2010
    The two Corey's again hmmm odd plot here, nothing original but plenty of holes leaving you wondering what on earth is really happening. There is no proper explainations as to how and why the body/mind switch happens and then it all becomes nothing at the end?? huh?
    Poor performan... read moreces from all really, many of the bigger names are possibly there simply to cash in on being with the younger stars, to show they are still hip hehe
    Can't recommend unless you love the two Corey's.
  • May 21, 2007
    The thought of people being able to communicate through dreams are cool.
  • February 27, 2007
    A wierd little movie.
  • December 7, 2006
    I hate this movie more than life itself. Watching the douchebag twins in action (one of which wishes he was Michael Jackson) makes getting gangbanged in a prison shower seem like Caddyshack.
  • July 5, 2009
    after viewing Licence To Drive and Lost Boys, I was totally looking forward to this flick. A major dissapointment, it sucked large!
  • December 6, 2007
    The Corey's are at their most heightened fashion in this one, although the plot wasn't such a hit.
  • June 25, 2010
    I saw this movie many,many years ago.Think when it came out.
    I just saw it again,and still love it.This movie takes love to another level.
    This is what they call, 'endearing' love. Everlasting love.
    Though, it has funny parts in it, it's kind of a learning type movie as well.... read more
    Great cast. I fell in love with Salenger the first time I saw this.lol.
    Corey Feldman, He's always been a favorite actor of mine.
    Then, you throw in Corey Haim, the comical guy that he is, well how can you pass up such a great cast ? Along with the parents too.
    Piper was fantastic too.

    The movie is very well crafted together, and you follow along pretty well.
    Story seems to be new , and you never know what's going to happen next.
    A little hard to second quess this one. So, at least you don't say to yourself,
    "Oh geez,I know the story already." After watching 20 minuttes into it.
    It keeps you there, because quite frankly, you really want to know, what happens to everyone in the film. Includeing the teacher and the parents.
    I'd truly recomend this film to EVERY young teenager. Possibly, ALL adults too. Makes you remember a few things in life.

    Mark
  • April 16, 2010
    R.I.P Corey Haim. I use to watch this everytime It came on when i was a kidf. Thought the story was fun
  • October 10, 2009
    What an unfortunate misfire, It had such an interesting idea, an interesting cast and a decent production to work with, nut the film just doesn?t work. It should have taken a much lighter tone. A waste of some good talent.

Critic Reviews


Walter Goodman
May 21, 2003
Walter Goodman, New York Times

This is one incoherent movie; I have a hunch that the writers could not figure it out, either. Full Review

Richard Harrington
January 1, 2000
Richard Harrington, Washington Post

Folks staggering out of Dream a Little Dream may well wonder what the heck they just saw. Full Review

Roger Ebert
January 1, 2000
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

Dream a Little Dream is an aggressively unwatchable movie. Full Review

July 25, 2007
TV Guide's Movie Guide

A relentless soundtrack beats throughout the film, and the scenes cut quickly from one location to another in an attempt at 'clever' editing that merely adds to the clouded feel of the movie. Full Review

Kevin Carr
March 25, 2005
Kevin Carr, 7M Pictures

The best things in this movie were Meredith Salinger's breasts.

Leo Goldsmith
April 14, 2004
Leo Goldsmith, Not Coming to a Theater Near You

Total crap.

Emanuel Levy
July 3, 2005
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

No review available.

Andy Klein
May 29, 2004
Andy Klein, New Times

No review available.

Rob Blackwelder
August 1, 2003
Rob Blackwelder, SPLICEDWire

No review available.

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

More Like This


Click a thumb to vote on that suggestion, or add your own suggestions.

  • Freaky Friday
    Freaky Friday (100%)
  • Dream a Little Dream 2
    Dream a Little Dream 2 (100%)
  • North Shore
    North Shore (100%)

Facts


No facts approved yet. Be the first

Dream a Little Dr... : Watch Free on TV


Dream a Little Dream Trivia


  • What 1989 movie has the tagline "With dreams like these who needs reality?"  Answer »
  • What movie is about teenage rap sensation Lil' Bow Wow named Calvin who lives out his dream of playing in the NBA, with a little help from a magical pair of sneakers?  Answer »
  • In what movie were Dinger and Bobby best friends?  Answer »
  • What actor/actress links The Lost Boys, License To Drive, Gremlins, Dream A Little Dream, and Tales From The Crypt: Bordello of Blood?  Answer »

Movie Quizzes


Recent Lists


Most Popular Skin


No skins yet. Interested in creating one?