The Flintstones Movie Is Crazier Than You Can Imagine
In Hollywood, it seems that the only way to get a project off the ground is by banking on a recognizable IP. Sometimes, this makes perfect sense, as executives know for a fact that they can get fans in seats for projects within the Marvel or Star Wars cinematic universes, while other times, it’s completely baffling. One example of a film I can’t believe exists is 1994’s The Flintstones, a live-action movie based on the classic Hanna-Barbera cartoon.
The Flintstones Isn’t Meant To Be A Parody
For those who haven’t yet seen The Flintstones movie, it’s currently available to stream on Starz, and it is a pure, unbridled, psychedelic trip that feels more like a feature-length Saturday Night Live parody of the 1960s cartoon than it does a film adaptation.
The film’s bizarre adult themes, overt erotic imagery, and release decades after the original Flintstones animated series went off the air are truly head-scratching and likely contribute to its poor reception. Despite these issues, the performances are strong, the writing is incredibly silly and over-the-top, and the massive Bedrock set, which took months to build, looks better than any other movie set ever.
An Accomplished Comedic Cast
The Flintstones movie also made great use of practical effects and, as a result, still holds up very well in modern viewings, save for the insane CG-crafted sabertooth family cat, which looks like it was plucked directly out of a fever dream.
The film was written by the trio of Tom S. Parker, Jim Jennewein, and Steven E. de Souza. While Parker and Jennewein only hold other writing credits for films such as Richie Rich and Stay Tuned, Steven E. de Souza is famous for penning such screenplays as Die Hard, Beverly Hills Cop 3, and Judge Dredd.
The Flintstones movie was directed by Brian Levant and touted a rock-solid cast of terrific performers, including John Goodman, Rick Moranis, Rosie O’Donnell, Halle Berry, Elizabeth Perkins, and Fallout‘s Kyle MacLachlan.
It’s A Living
Like the animated series, the film takes place in the prehistoric suburb of Bedrock, where Fred Flintstone and his buddy Barney Rubble support their families alongside a wide array of dinosaur slaves. Unlike the series, however, the film makes use of a baffling corporate espionage plot that seems more appropriate for Wayne’s World or Austin Powers than The Flintstones.
When You Think Of The Flintstones, You Think Corporate Espionage
The narrative of The Flintstones movie sees Fred promoted to vice executive president of Slate & Co after Barney selflessly helps him cheat on a business aptitude test. Once Fred takes on the swanky new office and executive perks, however, the power quickly goes to his head, and a rift begins to grow between him and his former coworkers. Before long, Slate & Co’s executive board attempts to swindle the company out of millions in… I guess, rock currency, leaving Fred as the patsy to take the blame.
Stream It Today
REVIEW SCORE
If you haven’t yet had the chance to see this off-the-wall hit, you need to drop what you’re doing right now and stream The Flintstones movie on Starz. Once you’re finished, you can also check out the 2000 prequel film The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas, which includes a new cast of D-list performers navigating an even more absurd plot with the assistance of a little green alien named The Great Gazoo.
I know this sounds like I made these movies up on the spot to prank you, but I swear that they’re real and just as bonkers as I’m making them sound. As proof, enjoy the GenreVision podcast episode covering The Flintstones!
