Chicagoan Craig Robinson was in town promoting his most recent movie, In Your Dreams. In addition to talking about the film, he talked a bit about family and his Chicago connections.
Robinson was born in Chicago and raised on the South Side. He attended Whitney M. Young High School and eventually came back to teach in the Chicago area. His father was an attorney and his mother was a music teacher, so it is no surprise that he has both the gift for gab as well as a love for music. Robinson’s interest in comedy saw him taking classes at Chicago’s famed Second City while he was still in college. After doing a lot of stand-up around the country, he began to land roles in shows like Friends, The Bernie Mac Show, and Arrested Development, and the rest is history.
Reggie Ponder: Craig, you’ve done quite a bit of voiceover work. What was it about this film, In Your Dreams, that made you say, “Yeah, I like this and want to be a part of it?”
Craig Robinson: You know what, this is the cutest movie I’ve been a part of. I love that my character Baloney Tony gets to shine. The filmmakers wanted me to bring my appeal, my character, and my personality to the role, so it was a no-brainer for me. I loved the script, I loved the imagination, and the director’s super passionate about it. He worked on it nine and a half years, from start to where it’s at now.
Reggie Ponder: So when you talk about your little stamp, your little something, something, what, what was that?
Craig Robinson: The goofiness, that silliness that’s in there. I acted a darn fool in this one. It was the freedom of expression, and they encouraged all the improv, so it was fun.
Reggie Ponder: This film has all these little kid gags, like the laser farts, the eating the bologna off the floor, things like that. Did that stuff resonate with you?
Craig Robinson: Well, I mean, I’m not gonna sit here and say I’ve never ate something off the floor, but that had happened. But it was so much to lean on from a kid’s perspective, but then there’s those adult things in there too. I was like, “Oh, wow, they’re really doing this in a kid’s movie.” So it’s got a lot of heart and soul to it.
Reggie Ponder: You come across as the type of guy who enjoys life and likes goofy kind of things.
Craig Robinson: For sure. My standup act is really me sitting down playing the keyboard and acting stupid. I give everybody permission to be corny. I think we all got that corny in us. Even a big, tough, never-smile dude is always going to see a baby and be like, “Goochie, goochie goo.” So yeah, to bring that, that’s my gift.
Reggie Ponder: There’s a statement in the film that “The family that dreams together stays together.” What does that say to you about family?
Craig Robinson: Family that dreams together, that’s a beautiful, beautiful statement, and I think sharing and dreaming with someone and saying, “Hey, this is what I want to do,” and they’re having that support, is what it all comes down to. The brother and sister went through things, but it came down to having each other’s back in the end.
Reggie Ponder: That’s really interesting because a lot of times sharing your dreams with people is scary, especially when they don’t see what you see.
Craig Robinson: Exactly. So to have somebody understand your vision and then help you achieve and lift you up and say, “Go get it,” is beautiful. Some people might say, “I don’t see it, but you know, I got your back with it.” It’s always welcome, always a beautiful thing because it’s a vulnerable thing to share your dreams with people.
Reggie Ponder: Similar to the bond that is made in the film, you and your brother Chris Rob share dreams together, and I’m curious, how does that work?
Craig Robinson: Chris Rob, we grew up always singing, always improvising off each other, always. We’ll sing harmony. I’ll just start a beat and then he’ll start rapping, and vice versa, all that kind of stuff. Now we have a band together. It’s called The Nasty Delicious, and we’re going to put out some tracks and all of that.
Reggie Ponder: Talking about music, in the film, there’s this statement when the mother’s grading papers, where one of the students wrote that Prince is overrated. Both the mother and daughter felt that that student should get an F. As a big Prince fan, what did you think about that scene?
Craig Robinson: Yeah, F for sure. I don’t even remember that part, so I’m going to have to protest the movie. Just kidding, but I don’t feel that way at all, and I’m glad that they said F because that would get an F for me. I’m a huge Prince fan. Rest in peace to King Prince. It’s not going to ever be another one like that.
Reggie Ponder: I must say, I disagreed with the statement in the film that “nightmares make you strong.” No, nightmares make you scared, right?
Craig Robinson: Actually, the fact that you got through it is what makes you strong. Yeah, you’re scared, but it’s about facing your fear too. So you face your fear, and then you got that feather in your cap now.
Reggie Ponder: What would you say is the overall message of this movie?
Craig Robinson: No matter what you go through, you know that family, when it comes down to it, we got each other’s back. You got to have each other’s back.
Reggie Ponder: You’re the comedian, you’re the actor, and a voice talent. Did you ever dream that you would be so successful in this area?
Craig Robinson: You know, it just kind of happened. I didn’t really focus on the voice. These opportunities came to me, and I just hopped on and rolled with it. It’s this true blessing, man.
Reggie Ponder: What advice would you give to the students at Whitney Young High School who aspire to be where you are?
Craig Robinson: You’re in the right place because we do it big over there at Whitney Young as Dolphins. I haven’t been there in a while, and I’m sure there’s been some turnover, but Whitney Young is always at the top. I’d tell them to just keep your grind on, man. Always be willing to grind, no matter what. I always go back to the fundamentals because no matter how good it gets, you always have to keep hustling.
Reggie Ponder: Can you invite people to check out this film?
Craig Robinson: Look, this is the cutest movie I’ve ever been a part of. It’s got that wholesomeness and a little bit of edge with the family issues that the family goes through. It’s got some heart to it, and it’s got a lot of jokes. Do it for your family. Do it for your soul. Check it out. In Your Dreams is currently on Netflix, so set your Netflix reminders and pay your Netflix bill.
Reggie Ponder: Before you leave, I have a bonus question. Have you ever been mistaken for the other Chicagoan, Craig Robinson?
Craig Robinson: Several times. Just last night a guy was like, “Hey, man, can I take a picture? We love your sister.” I was like, “You know my sister?” He says, “Yeah, Michelle Obama.” And I told him that’s not my sister, but it’s cool. She’s all of our sister. But she did go to Whitney Young. Boom!
Craig is embarking on a USO tour, has another animated movie, Saving Bikini Bottom: The Sandy Cheeks Movie, and is working on releasing some music with his brother. He’s doing quite well for a kid from the South Side, well indeed!
