Flintstones, The MPAA Rating: PG Entertainment: +3 Content: +2

That modern TV Stone Age family, the Flintstones, comes to the screen in this live-action feature film. Life-long friends Fred Flintstone (John Goodman) and Barney Rubble (Rick Moranis) are still at work in the gravel pits at Slate & Company. Fred gives Barney all of his savings, so Barney and wife Betty (Rosie O'Donnell) can adopt a son, Bam Bam. Meanwhile, back at Slate, evil Vice President Cliff Vandercave (Kyle MacLachlan) and secretary Sharon Stone (Halle Berry) are hatching a plan to embezzle money from the company. They need a stooge to be the scapegoat, so they devise a written test for all the workers. The one with the highest score will be their stooge vice president. While watching Fred struggle with the test, Barney realizes he can repay Fred's generosity by replacing Fred's test with his. Sure enough, Fred is selected to be the new vice president. His excitement is dampened when Vandercave orders him to fire Barney. So now the Flintstones must help out Barney and Betty. Not surprising, Barney and Betty can't help feeling jealous of the Flintstones' new-found affluence. But Fred has his own problems since he's being framed for embezzlement. Although predictable, THE FLINTSTONES is very entertaining. It is carried along by great special effects, witty dialogue, clever use of prehistoric terms and outstanding performances.

There are but a few detractors, mostly in the secretary's sexually suggestive dialogue whenever she needs to distract Fred. She also attempts to sit in Fred's lap, and lies seductively on his desk, and her prehistoric bikini reveals considerable cleavage. The only other crude action occurs when a giant flying pterodactyl relieves itself on two cars. Overall, THE FLINTSTONES provides wholesome family entertainment. Good messages abound about friendship, honesty and the shallow rewards of "instant wealth." Especially touching is the friendship between Barney and Fred, whose willingness to help each other may be somewhat misguided, but never selfish.

Preview Reviewer: Pete Zimowski
Distributor: Universal Pictures, 100 Universal Blvd., Universal City, CA 91608