The NeverEnding Story series

(In French, on Cable TV, April 2022) After something like half a dozen (or more) examples of the form, I have come to the conclusion that there’s a surprisingly specific genre I don’t care for: the 1980s family fantasy film, of which The NeverEnding Story II: The Next Chapter can be considered a late example. Such films are, perhaps by definition, fated to be less than satisfying – taking on the task of creating expansive fantastic visions with the limited tools of the time, inevitably compromising on narrative in order to deliver what was possible on their budget. (Today’s successors usually go to computer animation from the get-go.)  German production The NeverEnding Story II, even from the start, seems less ambitious than even its predecessor – it doesn’t aim for family entertainment as much as wowing the younger ones, and it’s an open question as to whether this can be as effective for its intended age group today, considering that even Saturday morning cartoons offer better fantasy visions. I liked elements of the villainess’s characterization, but that’s roughly it as far as impressions go – much of The NeverEnding Story II feels bland and forgettable, further fuelling my contention that I have issues with the genre itself.