Slumberland

Slumberland

A young girl discovers a secret map to the dreamworld of Slumberland, and with the help of an eccentric outlaw, she traverses dreams and flees nightmares, with the hope that she will be able to see her late father again.

  • Released: 2022-11-09
  • Runtime: 117 minutes
  • Genre: Adventure, Family, Fantasy
  • Stars: Jason Momoa, Marlow Barkley, Chris O'Dowd, Kyle Chandler, Weruche Opia, India de Beaufort, Humberly Gonzalez, Cameron Nicoll, Antonio Raine Pastore, Chris D'Silva, Yanna McIntosh, Jacob So, Izaak Smith, Michael Blake, Irene Barriault, Jana Lorbetski, Leslie Adlam, Owais Sheikh, Sergio Osuna, Ken Hall, Kassian Pascal, Leo Lorenzo Jones, Yosvani Castañeda, Ava Cheung, Jamillah Ross, Tonya Cornelisse, Luxton Handspiker, Neville Edwards, Andre Sills
  • Director: Francis Lawrence
 Comments
  • markumae - 26 February 2024
    Solid entry into family-friendly entertainment
    I am a sceptic when it comes to American entertainment these days; in a word, American media is horrible. That being said, the trailer for this was interesting enough that I gave this movie a chance. I AM VERY GLAD I DID.

    This movie is well-written, has well-developed characters performed by talented actors, fast pacing, and beautiful CGI. If you have given up on American entertainment this may give you hope that the industry may be turning a corner.

    Netflix has produced some decent shows over the last couple of years and this production falls firmly into the GOOD SHOW category. I know it's a couple of years old, but it is very much worth a watch. Highly recommend for ages 8+
  • frizzardi - 5 November 2023
    Why wasn't this promoted like it deserved?
    I stumbled upon this movie by chance, and giving the decent IMDB rating I decided to give it a chance.

    I'm quite glad I did - and I've just tried to improve its rating by giving it a solid eight.

    I wasn't familiar with the source material (aside from the iconic scene of the walking bed) so I cannot say if it stays true to the source or not, and frankly I don't care too much; the important thing is that the end result is quite enjoyable, with a sensible, coherent plot and excellent writing.

    You care for Nemo from the beginning, Marlow Barkley has excellent acting skills and her Nemo is quite believable. Her father and uncle were also great (the latter is a refreshing departure from the overused trope of the evil step-parent: he is boring and bumbling but you can see that his heart is in the right place).

    Jason Momoa as Flip was the cherry on the cake: it's quite clear that he had enormous fun on the set, and it shows in all the scenes he's in!

    Bonus points for the slumberland scenes that feel like real dreams - people riding giant geese, babies talking with grownup voices, endless stairs...

    I'm well out of the intended age bracket for this movie, but I thoroughly enjoyed it, and I definitely recommend it.
  • I_said_critiCON - 21 May 2023
    A very pleasant surprise!
    Amazingly, this children's movie easily kept my attention from beginning to end.

    Story: Highly creative and imaginative. It is based loosely on the renowned Little Nemo comic strip of the brilliant animator and movie maker Winsor McCay (1866-1934), who strongly influenced Walt Disney.

    The story is warm, tender, well thought out, edifying, and very absorbing. Who could want more?

    I don't know anything about the screenwriters David Guion and Michael Handelman, except that I would like to meet them and vigorously shake their hands. No, embrace them. Salute them.

    Acting: Everyone is great. Everyone seems perfectly cast. Jason Momoa ("Flip") is given the funniest lines, and he could not be improved on; but I'm telling you that the little girl Marlow Barkley ("Nemo") is also impeccable. She is such a perfect fit to Flip, and what fantastic chemistry between them.

    Barkley also brings out the best in Chris O'Dowd (Phillip), whose dry wit is totally crack-up, and matches the laugh out loud funny of Momoa, but with less face time. He is a gem.

    Kyle Chandler plays the perfect, endearing dad, Peter. Again, perfect casting.

    The ladies at the Bureau of Subconscious Activities are all a riot.

    The child actors are all fantastic. There is no one weak, at all.

    My complements to each actor for making this movie so pleasurable to my soul.

    And pig, the stuffed animal, is absolutely endearing!

    Scenery: Jaw-dropping. What gorgeous light and color. What clever camera work. Wow. What brilliant special effects. According to Wikipedia, DNEG and Framestore did the visual effects. And more VFX was done by Scanline VFX, Ghost VFX, Important Looking Pirates, Outpost VFX, Rodeo FX, Incessant Rain Studios, and Pinscreen. Great job.

    But the creativity and humor of those scriptwriters David Guion and Michael Handelman shines through every moment. Those guys are genius level, hands down. You just want to pause every frame and drink in their clever details.

    Thank you to everyone involved in this project. You thrilled me and blessed me!

    PS The film may not actually be a ten, but anyone who gives it less than an "8" has a screw loose.
  • HitsMan1307 - 27 December 2022
    Excellently written & a superb cast
    Watching a film on Netflix usually leads to arguments over what to watch and any 'Netflix only' movies tend to be a cash-grab scheme with not a lot of great quality out there. However, Slumberland is arguably the best Netflix film I've seen in a long time.

    Looking at the premise, it seemed to be a standard other-worldy film about a young girl who lost her dad and entered her dreams to find a coping mechanism for her loss. And accompanying her is Flip, a macho Jason Momoa. Okay, so the expectations were low.

    And yet, Slumberland managed to blow all expectations out the window.

    Not only was the script incredibly heartfelt, the scenes were brilliant to watch and very well made with CGI (maybe not the giant goose landing but oh well) and the acting truly is fantastic.

    Marlow Barkley, playing Nemo, is superb in the lead role, with just her facial expressions being enough to set the scene - she really does act beyond her years. Joining her, Jason Momoa is brilliant as Flip, chaotic and self-centred, he soon reaches an arc that everyone is proud to see.

    Chris O'Dowd plays a key role as Nemo's uncle and you can see how well he transitions to a more dramatic, yet a little comedic, character.

    This will pull your heart strings and make you really wonder, can your dreams be just as important as reality? Give it a watch, it's great.
  • chrischurilla - 12 December 2022
    Momoa Shines in This Movie With Heart
    I wasn't planning on watching this movie, even if it did have Jason Momoa in it, but a friend of mine recommended it, saying it evoked the magic of "Wizard of Oz".

    With such a bold statement, I felt obligated to watch it, and I now say it is one of best movies I have seen all year.

    The young actress in the lead was phenomenal, showing a lot of range and capability for someone so young, and Jason Momoa was great in a supporting role outside of his usual action ones; I hope he chooses more projects like this, he definitely has the ability to do more than just action movies.

    What makes this movie work is its heart. It is very effects-heavy, but never loses its heart, which is always a danger in such a movie.

    I think this is a movie that can be enjoyed by both kids and adults alike.
  • markcalway - 7 December 2022
    Unimaginably awful
    Brace yourself for two hours of CGI overkill about a girl who has adventures in dreams. After losing her dad (at the beginning of the film) she has to live with her uncle who is guilty of being boring in the real world. Stimulation overkill with ever imaginable adventure packed into two hours of excess as though a thousand ideas have been brainstormed and crowbarred in. The pig is likeable but everyone else I was hoping would meet a grizzly end. Kids will get bored and adults will think it's stupid. But some reviewers love it, but I just don't get why as I never cared for any of the characters. The plot is so crazy and yet dull, predictable and full of forced emotions standard to any orphaned child plot.
  • beachtv-1 - 4 December 2022
    Thoroughly Enjoyed
    Recently watched Slumberland and was pleasantly surprised. Momoa brings a sense of charm and charisma to his role as Flip, while Barkley's portrayal of Nemo is both endearing and heartfelt. The movie itself is a whimsical and imaginative adventure, taking the audience on a journey through a colorful and fantastical dream world. Visual effects are top notch, bringing the world of Slumberland to life in a truly immersive & entertaining way.

    In addition to its fun and humorous nature, Slumberland also explores important themes about life & happiness. Nemo, goes on a journey of self-discovery and learns that true happiness comes from within. It also touches on the importance of friendship and the power of working together to overcome obstacles & make positive changes.

    Slumberland is a delightful and heartwarming movie that will leave audiences feeling uplifted and inspired. Highly recommend for the whole family & anyone looking for a fun and entertaining movie experience.
  • SnoopyStyle - 29 November 2022
    looking for more magic
    Nemo (Marlow Barkley) and her father Peter (Kyle Chandler) are happy living on an island as lighthouse keepers. He tells her bedtime stories about an outlaw named Flip (Jason Momoa). After Peter dies in a sea rescue, she is sent to live with her estranged uncle Philip (Chris O'Dowd).

    I like Marlow. Jason Momoa has a bit of fun. The sleep world is a lot of CGI and not enough magic. I don't like going to the city. I really love the reveal and that helps elevate the story when it needed some help. It ends with the expected melodrama. For a movie of imagination, the story needs more imagination. It needs a bit more magic.