The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas (PG) No Rating

Flintstones, meet the Flintstones. Literally.

Story

The sequel to "The Flintstones" (1994) is actually a prequel, therefore the questions of our generation are answered. How did Fred meet Wilma? How did Barney meet Betty? Where did Dino come from? Once these questions are answered, however, there's not much else to see. Despite the vivid sets and clever prehistoric gadgetry, the movie is yabba-dabba-yawn.

Acting

The cast is likable all around, but transforming a cartoon into a live-action remake is not always convincing or successful. Case-in-point: "Dudley Do-Right." Mark Addy of "The Full Monty" sounds a little like Fred, but his performance is too subdued for the gregarious caveman. "Third Rock From the Sun's" Kirsten Johnson and "Ally McBeal's" Jane Krakowski barely fill the cartoon shoes of Wilma and Betty, respectively. Stephen Baldwin, on the other hand, pulls off the Barney character, sounding just as dumb. Hope Stephen wasn't typecast for this movie. Probably the most notable performance goes to Alan Cumming, who delights in his double duty as the green Martian Gazoo and as a Mick Jagger-esque character.

Direction

The best decision director Brian Levant made for this movie is to keep it to an hour and a half. Lop off another 60 minutes and you've got a great TV show. Oh, that's been done.

Bottom Line

"The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas" takes the viewer down a rocky road at best.