Dream a Little Dream (1989)

An accident puts the consciousness of an elderly dream researcher into the body of a bratty teenager. The problem? The kid prefers dreamworld limbo to real life.

Director:

Marc Rocco

Writers:

Daniel Jay Franklin (story), Daniel Jay Franklin (screenplay)

Stars:

Corey Feldman, Jason Robards, Piper Laurie

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jason Robards	...	Coleman Ettinger
Corey Feldman	...	Bobby Keller / Coleman Ettinger
Piper Laurie	...	Gena Ettinger
Meredith Salenger	...	Lainie Diamond
Harry Dean Stanton	...	Ike Baker
Corey Haim	...	Dinger
Susan Blakely	...	Cherry Diamond
William McNamara	...	Joel
Matt Adler	...	Dumas
Victoria Jackson	...	Kit Keller
Alex Rocco	...	Gus Keller
Ria Pavia	...	Maureen
Lala Sloatman	...	Shelley (as Lala)
Laura Lee Norton	...	Marge
John Ward	...	Derek

Storyline

The lives of a crusty old scientist and a bratty, teen Michael-Jackson-wannabe are about to intersect in a paranormal way. Coleman Ettinger seeks to break down the door of reality through studied dreaming; Bobby Keller wants Lainie Diamond, the girlfriend of his high school friend Joel, a handsome school jock. As Coleman persuades his wife Gena to join his experiments, an accident knocks their bodies out of existence, along with Bobby's consciousness. Coleman's consciousness winds up in Bobby's body while Gena's ends up buried and asleep inside Lainie's. Only when sleeping can Coleman contact Bobby and elicit his help in putting things back, except that Bobby smugly prefers limbo over his aggravated life as a modern teenager.

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Plot Keywords:

cult film | shortcut | messy room | blackboard | talking in bed | 

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Taglines:

With dreams like these who needs reality?

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

PG-13

Did You Know?

Trivia

This film re-teams frequent co-stars Corey Feldman and Corey Haim though originally only Feldman was cast in the film. When Lala Sloatman was cast as Shelley, she agreed to be in the film on the condition that her then-boyfriend Haim was also cast.

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Goofs

The part in Lainie's hair changes while talking to Bobby in the hall after taking the SAT's.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Bobby Keller: Dinger! Dinger, wake up for a minute. I gotta talk to you, Buddy.
Dinger: Bobby, I'm asleep. I'm sound asleep, Bobby. I'm dreaming. Apache women. Mai-taih's. Vannah White and a whip.
Bobby Keller: I'm in love.
Dinger: That could be a problem.
Bobby Keller: I don't think you understand.
Dinger: No, no, I do understand. I really do. Which hand is it this week PAL?

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Connections

Referenced in There Goes the Neighborhood: The Making of 'The 'Burbs' (2014)

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Soundtracks

Young at Heart
Written by Johnny Richards and Carolyn Leigh
Performed by Frank Sinatra
Courtesy of Reprise Records
By Arrangement with Warner Special Products

User Reviews

The Best Two Coreys Film

While the latter 1980s were absolutely gagged with lame body-switching comedies like the listless Vice Versa and Like Father, Like Son, I found something entirely different and actually inspiring in Dream a Little Dream. Buoyed by strong performances, Dream is not at all what you'd expect it would be. Much to my surprise, it is actually a smart, witty, intelligent and touching look at old age and adolecence by way of new age philosophy. Corey Feldman gives one of his best performances, and no, that's not a joke, and Haim is never better anywhere than he is in his small role as the oddball best friend Dinger. Obviously it didn't hurt to have a three time Oscar nominee like the late, great Jason Robards on board. This movie really does have something for everyone, and I'm being a hundred percent serious. So many "oh so serious" types like to bash movies like this, but I'm a writer, and I love good, interesting movies, and I truly see this as one of them. What a terrific, quirky little gem produced by the Two Coreys before midnight, January 1st, 1990 when their careers suddenly spiralled down the toilet. Funny, touching, and utterly enjoyable.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

3 March 1989 (USA)

Also Known As:

Long Before Tomorrow

Filming Locations:

New Hanover High School - 1307 Market Street, Wilmington, North Carolina, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$2,568,963, 5 March 1989

Gross USA:

$5,552,441

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$5,552,441

Company Credits

Production Co:

Lightning Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

114 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1