Based on the century-old comic strip ‘Little Nemo in Slumberland’, this fantastical (and fantastic), wildly inventive ride from director Francis Lawrence (‘Water for Elephants’, ‘The Hunger Games’) is a visual treat, chock-full of marvelous visual effects, but it’s also a thrilling and heartfelt story about a young, orphaned girl who finds solace in her dreams. Jason Mamoa, Kyle Chandler, and Chris O’Dowd join the promising Marlow Barkley in this trippy, magical epic that may unfortunately get lost in the holiday hubbub. Big mistake.

4.5/5 stars