The Flintstones (1994)

In a parallel modern-day Stone Age world, a working-class family, the Flintstones, are set up for an executive job. But they learn that money can't buy happiness.

Director:

Brian Levant

Writers:

Tom S. Parker, Jim Jennewein

Stars:

John Goodman, Rick Moranis, Rosie O'Donnell

6 wins & 10 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
John Goodman	...	Fred Flintstone
Elizabeth Perkins	...	Wilma Flintstone
Rick Moranis	...	Barney Rubble
Rosie O'Donnell	...	Betty Rubble
Kyle MacLachlan	...	Cliff Vandercave
Halle Berry	...	Miss Stone
Elizabeth Taylor	...	Pearl Slaghoople
Dann Florek	...	Mr. Slate
Richard Moll	...	Hoagie
Irwin Keyes	...	Joe Rockhead (as Irwin '88' Keyes)
Jonathan Winters	...	Grizzled Man
Harvey Korman	...	Dictabird (voice)
Elaine Silver	...	Pebbles
Melanie Silver	...	Pebbles
Hlynur Sigurðsson	...	Bamm-Bamm (as Hlynur Sigurdsson)

Storyline

The Flintstones and the Rubbles are modern stone-age families. Fred and Barney work at Slate and Company, mining rock. Fred gives Barney some money so he and Betty can adopt a baby. When Fred and Barney take a test to determine who should become the new associate vice president, Barney returns the favor by switching his test answers for Fred's, whose answers aren't very good. Fred gets the executive position, but little does he know that he's being manipulated by his boss to be the fall guy for an embezzlement scheme.

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Plot Keywords:

stone age | 1000000 b.c. | reboot of series | product placement | dinosaur and man | 

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Taglines:

Yabba-dabba-doo it!

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Genres:

Comedy | Family | Fantasy

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for some mild innuendos

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

27 May 1994 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Flintstones: The Live-Action Movie

Filming Locations:

Santa Clarita, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$46,000,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$130,512,915

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$228,000,000

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal Pictures, Amblin Entertainment, Hanna-Barbera Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

91 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby SR

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

John Candy was considered for the role of Fred Flintstone. The Flintstones (1960) was his all time favorite cartoon, but his pre marth in 1994 prevented him. He also previously portrayed the role of Buck Russell in Uncle Buck, a role for which John Goodman was considered for.

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Goofs

Pearl Slaghoople's scarf during the party scene.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Foreman: Hey, back to work! You guys had a break two days ago!

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Crazy Credits

There are several statements in the closing credits:

• No dinosaurs were harmed in the production of this motion picture.
• The producer would like to thank the people of Bedrock and the Bedrock Film Commission...
• ...a Steven SpielROCK production.
• When in Hollyrock, visit Univershell Studios

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Alternate Versions

When aired on USA, the movie featured scenes cut from the final releases and made for TV viewing, as Universal often does.

• A scene of Fred activating the garage door and pedaling the Flintmobile inside;
• Wilma cutting the tail off his zebra suit he wore on his first day of being an executive followed by him saying they're gonna go find the biggest steak in the world and that Wilma would cook it;
• Extra dialogue from Cliff when he threatens to fire Fred unless Fred fires Barney;
• Wilma, Betty and the kids walking to the clothing store;
• Barney at an unemployment office;
• Extra dialogue in the meeting room where Fred says that the model factory could never build full sized houses;
• Wilma pretending her car broke down at the gates of Slate & Company in order to knock out the guard so she and Betty could go in and get the Dictabird.

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Connections

Referenced in Casper (1995)

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Soundtracks

PREHISTORIC DAZE
Written by David A. Stewart and Siobhan Fahey
Performed by Shakespear's Sister (as Shakespears Sister) & The Holy Ghost
Courtesy of London Records

User Reviews

Pre-Historic Fun That Is As Good As It Can Be

"The Flintstones" is a film that tries hard to be likeable and succeeds for the most part, but with that said this is only a fair film at best. The cartoons come to real live and the nostalgia carries some of the film. However, the paper-thin plot destroys any chance that the film has to be a complete success. Naive Fred Flintstone (John Goodman) has been promoted and is now a big-time businessman. Of course the villains, Halle Berry and Kyle MacLachlan, are just using Fred to steal from Mr. Slate's company. Wilma (Elizabeth Perkins) quickly becomes jealous of Berry, but overlooks everything because Fred is raking in the cash. Barney Rubble (Rick Moranis) meanwhile is unemployed because he had the lowest score on an IQ test (he actually switched tests with Fred because Fred had lent him money to adopt Bamm-Bamm). Throughout his financial crisis, Betty (Rosie O'Donnell) stands beside him. Fred finally becomes wise to what is going on, but MacLachlan has a devious scheme up his sleeve. All in all "The Flintstones" is a good looking film with high production values, but ultimately the screenplay and direction cannot save this film. The characters play well on television, but are somewhat out of their element on the big screen. The cast is hard-working in spite of the fact the material is just not present. 2.5 out of 5 stars.