The Flintstones

  • Review Date: September 12, 2005
  • PG
  • Genre: Comedy
  • 1994
 Review

Common Sense Media says

Zany cave-age antics leaven too-serious plot.
greenON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
yellowPAUSE: Know your child; some content
may not be right for some kids.
redOFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
not for kidsNOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age.

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Quality
 
Sometimes media can be age appropriate but a real waste of time. Our star rating assesses the media's overall quality.

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Parents say

Not yet rated

Kids say

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that kids will hear some mild cursing and see plenty of cartoon violence. Faithful to the original, this movie also contains references to sex, plus onscreen drinking and smoking. There is also plenty of 1950s-style stereotyping of men and women both. Female characters are either housewives or sexpots. Men drink, bowl, attend lodge meetings, and are putty in the hands of non-wife sexpots. However, it is worth noting that the theme of personal sacrifice to help one's friends is stressed throughout the movie.

  • The major female characters are either housewives or sexpots. While the movie presents a racially integrated supporting cast, jokes are made at the expense of "Neanderthals."
  • Pebbles and Bam Bam are kidnapped and threatened by the villain. Plenty of comic pratfalls. Barney punches Fred in one scene. Villain of the story apparently dies when he's covered with cement.
  • Fred flirts with his knockout secretary. In another scene, he gets rid of an overly affectionate Dino by threatening to get him "fixed."
  • A couple mild curse words.
  • Not applicable.
  • We see "Sharon Stone" smoking a prehistoric cigarette. Fred clearly likes to throw back a few drinks, and comes home drunk in one scene.

What's the story?

Fred Flintstone is promoted to corporate executive, then framed for embezzlement in this live-action version of the popular cartoon series. Flintstone (John Goodman) and Barney Rubble (Rick Moranis) work in the rock quarries of the prehistoric town of Bedrock. Fred loans Barney money from his and Wilma's (Elizabeth Perkins) savings account so Barney and Betty (Rosie O'Donnell) can adopt a child. Meanwhile, creepy executive Cliff Vandercave plans to promote one of his quarry workers to vice president, using an aptitude test to find a suitable candidate. Fred gets the promotion, with a little help from Barney. Unfortunately, it's all a setup. Vandercave plans to frame the new VP in an embezzlement scheme, and Fred's growing egotism at this promotion causes a rift between the former best pals -- especially when Fred is forced to fire Barney. Can the two make up in time to prevent Fred from going to jail, and get Barney his job back?


Is it any good?

 

Live-action versions of cartoon hits should be approached with caution; if an idea works well as a cartoon, it's unlikely to have the same impact in live action, and vice versa. THE FLINTSTONES actually makes the transition reasonably smoothly, thanks to clever casting and an eclectic display of wacky creatures (computer-generated and puppets). Much of the original series' humor, faithfully recreated here, stems from the fact that the Stone Age world had primitive versions of modern conveniences. Some of these gags, however, are more grotesque when not in cartoon form, but many kids will find this outlandish humor funny.

But Barney and Betty's attempts to adopt a baby, their subsequent financial troubles, and management vs. labor subplots are too serious and at odds with the absurd tone of the rest of the movie. Nevertheless, most kids will enjoy the preposterous world of The Flintstones. The prequel, The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas, is even better for kids, retaining this movie's virtues, but eliminating the dour elements.


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What families can talk about

Families can talk about movie remakes and nostalagia. Why make a movie that essentially reproduces a cartoon most popular when many of today's parents were children? Do you think it's harder or easier than creating new characters, new themes, new stories? Is there an element of safety in remaking a once-popular movie or TV series?


This review was written by Paul Trandahl
Kid, 10 years old
January 8, 2011
 
people aim guns at others but miss and a police man falls off a building

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Educator and Parent
August 27, 2011
 
Product placement more a teachable moment...
Product placement with humorous "rock" and "stone" analogies. Perhaps too much branding, but my kids loved finding them. I used it as a teachable moment for marketing.

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Teen, 18 years old
September 29, 2009
 
Unlike the series, it falls flat
This movie was a big let down. My family rented it when I was 6, and it wasen't worth it. Even then I thought it wasen't good.

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Kid, 10 years old
August 8, 2011
 
it'alright
i enjoyed it i don't remenber any drug use but i remember the inuendo

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Kid, 13 years old
April 11, 2011
 
Zany and pathetic Flintstone movie
Idiotic icarnation of the classic 60s cartoon.

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Kid, 10 years old
November 28, 2009
 
this movie is the bomb!
its a good movie.

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Parent of 10 year old
March 17, 2011
 

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Teen, 16 years old
December 17, 2011
 
awesome movie for the entire family
awesome movie for the whole family!!!! but 1 swear.

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Kid, 11 years old
March 3, 2012
 
Meh.....
An entertaining yet brainless film, chock-full of stereotypes and gross-out humor. Not much I can say here.

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This review was written by Paul Trandahl
Topics:friendship
Studio:Universal Pictures
Director:Brian Levant
Cast:John Goodman, Rick Moranis, Rosie O'Donnell
Genre:Comedy
Run time:91 minutes
Theatrical release date:May 23, 1994
DVD release date:October 14, 1997
MPAA rating:PG
MPAA explanation:Parental Guidance Suggested

This review was written by Paul Trandahl
 

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ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids.
OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
Learning ratings
BEST: Really engaging, great learning approach.
GOOD: Pretty engaging, good learning approach.
FAIR: Somewhat engaging, OK learning approach.
NOT FOR LEARNING: Not recommended for learning.

 

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