The Flintstones opened on May 27, 1994. The Amblin comedy was based on the classic cartoon series. The film starred John Goodman & Rick Moranis.
Synopsis:
Fred Flintstone and Barney Rubble are best friends who would do anything for each other. When Barney makes a sacrifice for the Flintstone’s family – resentment begins to set in. Fred is then forced to betray his best buddy and finds himself in legal trouble.
Positives:
- The production design in the film is impressive. The practical effects show a lot of imagination and incredible scope.
- The tone of the film is very close to the original cartoon series.
- The cast members, especially John Goodman, are truly invested in their characters and the story.
Negatives:
- The digital effects in the film don’t hold up well in 2020. They have aged very poorly.
- The film features almost no laughs, which is a major problem for a comedy.
- The script and story are bland and do not take advantage of the talented and eager to deliver cast.
In Closing:
The Flintstones is a flat remake of the iconic TV series it is based on. It does an admirable job of paying tribute to the look and tone of the show – but the comedy is painfully unfunny. The Flintstones offers very little to enjoy and almost nothing to remember when its over.
Rating: D+
