Hello and welcome to this week’s edition of Movie Reviews 2025, and there’s no point beating around the bush on this one, there is a very big, highly-anticipated movie playing in cinemas this week. The movie is Wicked: For Good, the sequel to 2024’s Wicked – although, you probably already know this (who doesn’t?).
The previous movie was both a critical and commercial hit (it took over $758 million at the worldwide box-office), and this new offering is tipped to follow suit. But is it as good as everyone hopes? Well, you can read all about Wicked: For Good very shortly.
Also in this edition of Movie Reviews 2025 you can check out reviews for new animated fantasy film, In Your Dreams, as well as festive pop flick, A Very Jonas Christmas Movie. So, with all this and a bit more, let’s get on with things.
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Now streaming…
In Your Dreams (2025)
First up this week is the animated family movie, In Your Dreams. Directed and co-written by Alex Woo (in his feature-length directorial debut), the movie features the voice talents of Jolie Hoang-Rappaport, Elias Janssen, Craig Robinson, Simu Liu, Cristin Milioti, and Omid Djalili, and focuses on two children who enter the dreamworld in the hope of saving their parents’ marriage.
In the movie, Stevie and Elliot are siblings who live with their mom and dad. Stevie is the eldest of the two, and has recently noticed things aren’t going great between her parents.
So much so, she’s worried they will split up. A situation that seems to be moving further in that direction when her mother begins looking for a new job out of town.
One day, while trying to help her brother, Elliot with his homework, Stevie comes across a book in the library. Titled Legend of the Sandman, the book focuses on the mythical Sandman who can supposedly make dreams come true.
That night, when Stevie and Elliot go to sleep they find themselves sharing the same dream. This soon leads them to cross paths with the Sandman, who offers to help solve the problem with their parents.
Trouble is, dreams aren’t reality and while Stevie and Elliot might get what they want in the dream world, it comes at a price. Can the pair work through their problems while keeping the family together?
Featuring delightful animation, a good voice cast, a decent soundtrack, and enough fun and frolics to entertain younger audiences, In Your Dreams is a likeable and fairly touching movie. The idea of two children entering the dreamworld to save their parents’ marriage is an interesting concept, which works well enough, and it should resonate with quite a few people, irrespective of age.
On top of this, there’s enough quirky characters and ideas in the film to keep things ticking along. Elliot’s stuffed giraffe, Baloney Tony is a neat (if somewhat underused) addition; the Sandman has shades of the Wizard of Oz about him; and some of the other background players slot in fine.
Is In Your Dreams perfect? Nope, and the story is a bit patchy in places, taking a little while to get to the good stuff, but more of the film works than doesn’t.
It’s the sort of film which plays big on fantasy and wish fulfilment and if that’s your bag then it should suit you fine. It’s also the sort of movie which feels like it has been ripped from the ‘80s – which is never a bad thing.
Rewind the clock 40 years, and In Your Dreams could have easily been a live-action picture directed by Steven Spielberg, with John Williams scoring, and ILM providing the effects. It certainly has that ‘fantasy adventure’ vibe, so if you long for the days of that type of movie, In Your Dreams could be for you.
Similar to last week’s Frankenstein, In Your Dreams has ‘save-this-one-for-the-Christmas-holidays’ written all over it. It’s a film which would make for perfectly enjoyable Boxing Day viewing, so do keep this in mind.
OK, so the youngest members of the household will probably get the most out of it, but older audiences should be entertained too while knocking back the sherry. Anyway, should you wish to take a look, In Your Dreams is now streaming on Netflix.
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Now streaming…
A Very Jonas Christmas Movie (2025)
Sticking with streaming for the second movie this week, and there’s festive drama in A Very Jonas Christmas Movie. Directed by Jessica Yu, the movie stars pop sensations the Jonas Brothers as they embark on a troubling trip home for the holidays.
In the movie, Joe, Nick, and Kevin are in London after reaching the end of an exhausting six month tour. They now plan to return home to the US to spend the Christmas holidays with their families.
However, 48 hours before Christmas Day arrives they encounter a significant stumbling block. Their tour plane blows up, the weather in London has caused various flight delays, and it appears they may be stranded in the UK.
Undeterred the Jonas Brothers attempt to get home by any route possible. Cue plenty of travel-based hijinks, a number of celebrity cameos, and a bunch of song and dance numbers as the brothers head home… the wrong way.
Essentially staged as a sort-of Planes, Trains and Jonas Brothers, A Very Jonas Christmas Movie is a daft, extremely light, but easy to watch Christmas movie that won’t pop your cork but will go down OK with a glass of mulled wine. The film looks pretty, the songs are jolly, and Joe, Nick, and Kevin are decent leads.
On top of all this, the run-time is short. As such, it doesn’t wear out its welcome and can slot in nicely amongst other festive fare.
This is very much a film to watch with no expectations and a bit of free-time on your hands. You won’t laugh or care all the time, but you may laugh and care from time-to-time, and at the very least you’ll lean into the Yuletide cheer.
Not a must-see movie by any stretch, but an alright way to spend 80-minutes in the run-up to Christmas. Stick A Very Jonas Christmas Movie on your TV while you put the decorations up and it’ll certainly put you in the right mood for the season.
Should you want to place it on your festive watchlist, A Very Jonas Christmas Movie is now streaming on Disney+.
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In cinemas…
Wicked: For Good (2025)
And finally, now playing in cinemas worldwide, it’s the movie many have been waiting for. Yes, it’s Wicked: For Good.
Directed by Jon M. Chu, Wicked: For Good stars Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jonathan Bailey, Michelle Yeoh, Ethan Slater, Marissa Bode, and Jeff Goldblum. The movie picks up a short while after the events of last year’s Wicked, with Elphaba now known throughout Oz as the Wicked Witch of the West.
Meanwhile, with Elphaba (wrongfully) positioned as public enemy No. 1, Glinda has taken up a place at the Wizard’s side. Glinda is now seen as a good witch (with some help from the Wizard), and for all intents and purposes in conflict with her former friend.
OK, so a year has passed between the release of the first movie and the release of this second instalment, meaning audiences have been asked to wait patiently for the conclusion of this two-film saga. The wait is now finally over, but does Wicked: For Good sit on par with Part One?
Erm… not quite, no. Wicked: For Good is fine and many will have fun with it, but it is not as strong as the first chapter.
The film is based on the second half of the Wicked musical, and like its source material there are problems. So, if you’re hoping for the same tour de force of epic songs and marvellously told storytelling you got first time around, you may come away a bit disappointed.
That said, it’s not a disaster. You may see some critics suggesting it is terrible, and this simply isn’t the case; it’s just not quite as magical as what came before.
The problem is two-fold: The film doesn’t have any decent songs (which is the same problem the second half of the musical has), and in its attempt to bolt on story beats and plot points from The Wizard of Oz, things get a little messy. Certain character introductions feel rushed, while all of the scenes involving Dorothy feel undercooked.
If you’re familiar with The Wizard of Oz, which most people on the planet are, then you know what story beats Wicked: For Good is eluding to, but that doesn’t stop these sections of the movie weakening the overall picture. Wicked didn’t have to worry about incorporating sizeable elements of The Wizard of Oz, but Wicked: For Good Does, and sadly it makes this feel like less of a complete story.
The lack of good tunes, combined with a patchy narrative has a significant impact. It doesn’t completely derail the film, but it does create some notable wobbles.
OK, so that’s the bad out of the way, now onto the good. Everything else that made Wicked such a standout affair is all present and correct.
The cast remain on fine form, especially Ariana Grande; the costumes, the make-up, and the sets, etc are all excellent; and the fun and laughs are still here.
Yes, there are fewer laughs than last time around but chuckles are still had. If you enjoyed the fantasy and creativity of Part One, then Part Two will find you well enough.
Ultimately, Wicked: For Good isn’t as sturdy as Wicked, and on a critical level it is the weaker of the two films, but I doubt most audiences will care. There were claps at the end of my (packed) screening, suggesting the issues are going to be overlooked by general audiences anyway, and as long as everyone has an enjoyable time seeing this saga conclude, I believe that’s all that will matter.
So, it’s fun and likeable enough, but with wrinkles. The first film defied expectations, and while this one is unlikely to achieve the same result it’ll no doubt be a success.
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Movie of the Week
Over to Movie of the Week now, and it’ll come as no surprise this week the prestigious title goes to Wicked: For Good. You’ve all been waiting for this sequel to 2024’s Wicked, it’s here now, so enjoy!
And if you like Wicked: For Good, you may also like:
- The Wizard of Oz (1939) – Victor Fleming’s marvellous musical, The Wizard of Oz features ruby slippers, a cowardly lion, a yellow brick road, and Judy Garland – which is pretty much all you need in a movie.
- Return to Oz (1985) – Dark and somewhat scary, this fabulous ’80s fantasy sees Dorothy Gale (played by Fairuza Balk) return to the land of Oz for more hijinks and adventure.
- Oz the Great and Powerful (2013) – James Franco, Mila Kunis, Rachel Weisz, and Michelle Williams star in this fantasy romp which focuses on the man who will become the Wizard of Oz.
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Delve Into The Archive
That’s it for yet another week, but don’t worry, there are more reviews in another seven days. In the meantime, if you’ve missed out on any of the previous editions of Movie Reviews 2025 you can catch up now via the Movie Reviews Archive.
Here you’ll find all the regular editions from the past 46 weeks, along with a whole heap of Movie Reviews Specials too! Have a scroll, read some reviews, and indulge in all the movie madness from earlier in the year.
Alex
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Thank you for stopping by It’s A Stampede! to read this edition of Movie Reviews 2025. For more posts be sure to check out the recommended reads below.
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