The Flintstones

Movie review by Paul Trandahl, Common Sense Media
The Flintstones Poster Image

Common Sense says

age 8+

Zany Stone Age antics; some violence, drinking.

PG 1994 91 minutes
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Parents say

age 8+

Based on 6 reviews

Kids say

age 9+

Based on 9 reviews

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A Lot or a Little?

The parents' guide to what's in this movie.

What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that The Flintstones is the 1994 live action remake of the classic cartoon series. This version stays faithful to the original. For instance, there are plenty of scenes in which Fred is shown using his feet to operate his Stone Age car to get to work, but the gender roles and stereotypes of the original are also prominent. When Fred gets an office job, his new secretary pretends to flirt with him while whispering sexually-charged one-liners like "use me how you see fit" and 'if you want me." Fred's mother-in-law (played by Elizabeth Taylor) accuses him of being drunk. Cigarette smoking. Beer drinking at the bowling alley. Characters drink martinis out of exaggerated Stone Age martini "glasses." Some cartoonish violence and pratfalls -- Bam Bam hitting Barney in the head with a club, characters flung into canyon walls via catapults. Product placement, contemporary products or news organizations have their Stone Age equivalents. Language includes "damn," "sucks." However, it's worth noting that the theme of personal sacrifice to help one's friends is stressed throughout the movie.

Community Reviews

Lowe's man
Lowe's man Adult
September 1, 2014
age 7+

Bill Hanna, Joe Barbera and Steven Spielberg knew how to make the cartoon translate to live-action.

The scantily clad secretary and the depiction of some of the other women characters should make parents think twice about whether or not to let children under 7 watch. There's also the drinking, but again in prehistoric days most people weren't sensitive to this. Same goes when the cartoon first came out in 1960. While we can debate whether or not the producers should've gone this far to be faithful to the original series, it is for that reason- loyalty- that drinking was shown. The main focus of this movie is loyalty to friends. After all, it is Barney's loyalty to Fred that gets Fred the promotion. Although there's a rift between Fred and Barney when Fred gets the promotion, they make up by movie's end. There are a couple other lessons to be learned from this movie as well. For example, it is shown how power corrupts some people. The consequences of dishonesty are also portrayed. Barney also learns that loyalty can only go so far. When he saw that Fred wasn't cut out to be a manager, Barney admitted what he did to help Fred get the job, and felt that he shouldn't've. Fred understood his intention and forgave him, thereby telling viewers that we need to look at one's intentions, not just the effects of his or her actions. Kids who enjoy the series will enjoy this movie.
1 person found this helpful.
Mary M Valentine
Mary M Valentine Adult
February 18, 2022
age 6+

Cute film

If you grew up with the Flintstones cartoon show in the 60s, this will make you chuckle. The casting is clever and performances are good. Special effects are cute. Plot is a little dumb, but, hey, it IS a kid's film. My two 90s kids liked it when it came out. Overall, It's a fun kid's movie. It's not going to do anything to make your kids speak another language or learn to count like the bland, boring politically correct kid's TV shows of today do, but it should make them laugh and gently entertain them- and maybe suggest to them what is meaningful in life and that wealth and power don't provide true or lasting happiness.

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
See all 6 parent reviews

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.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about movie remakes and nostalgia. 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?

  • How are women and men portrayed in this movie? How does this match both the cartoon series The Flintstones and the gender roles of the 1950s?

  • How does the movie use product placement? Why would it be problematic for product placement to be in a movie, especially one marketed for kids?

Movie Details

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