Dream Warriors -- Underrated Performances or Just Campy Fun?

Okay, so I just rewatched Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors, and I'm torn. On one hand, it's peak 80s horror cheese, right? Freddy is cracking jokes, the special effects are gloriously over-the-top, and the whole concept of dream powers is just plain bonkers. But on the other hand, there's something genuinely compelling about the performances, especially from the younger cast. I'm thinking specifically about Patricia Arquette as Kristen. She sells the trauma and the vulnerability REALLY well, and her arc from terrified victim to empowering everyone else is actually quite moving. Same with Ira Heiden as Will, the wheelchair-bound kid. He brings a real earnestness to the role that I didn't fully appreciate when I was younger. Maybe it's the contrast with Freddy's campy performance, but their scenes actually felt really grounded. So, am I just being overly generous, or are these legitimately good performances buried under all the dream goo and bad puns? Did anyone else pick up on this or am I just imagining things?