ROANOKE TIMES 

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, May 28, 1994                   TAG: 9405300007
SECTION: EXTRA                    PAGE: 10   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: By MIKE MAYO CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

KIDS WILL LOVE 'FLINTSTONES'

Despite the skepticism of many critics and Hollywood insiders, ``The Flintstones'' have made the difficult transition from chewable multivitamins to major motion picture.

Actually, the two products should appeal to the same audience. Adults will groan at the dumb jokes and simple visual gags, but kids will love them. For better and for worse, the film is faithful to the TV series in its look and story. It's a simple live-action cartoon that's never too demanding.

The movie even begins and ends with live versions of the familiar television introduction and conclusion that seem accurate right down to the songs and sound effects. The actors play their characters with the simple emotions and gestures we expect from cartoons. In short, the film does what it sets out to do quite well.

The story concerns Fred's (John Goodman) promotion to the executive suite at the Slate & Co. quarry. The nasty Cliff Vandercave (Kyle MacLachlan) plans to use our hapless hero to embezzle money from the company. But first, Fred and Wilma (Elizabeth Perkins) have to cope with their material success and the financial troubles the Rubbles (Rick Moranis and Rosie O'Donnell) have encountered.

Rounding out the principal cast are Halle Barry as Fred's new secretary, and Elizabeth Taylor (!?) as his mother-in-law.

In this case, though, the sets, props and effects are just as important - if not more important - than the actors. Credit production designer William Sandell, Jim Henson's Creature Shop and more than a dozen puppeteers with recreating Bedrock and the assorted gadgets that were the main attraction of the series. The family pet Dino is a real scene-stealer.

Reportedly more than 30 writers worked on the script, but it's no worse than most of the commercial junk that's produced these days. Director Brian Levant maintains an even light tone throughout. There's no explicit violence or strong language that's inappropriate for youngsters. Levant knew what he was doing with the kiddie hit ``Beethoven,'' and he strikes the same note here.

Of course, grownups who go to the theater expecting to see a ``real'' movie will be disappointed. But, honestly, did anyone ever expect ``The Flintstones'' to be a ``real'' movie?

In this case, though, the sets, props and effects are just as important - if not more important - than the actors. Credit production designer William Sandell, Jim Henson's Creature Shop and more than a dozen puppeteers with recreating Bedrock and the assorted gadgets that were the main attraction of the series. The family pet Dino is a real scene-stealer.

`The Flintstones' ** *** (for kids)

A Universal release playing at the Salem Valley 8 and Valley View Mall 6. 92 min. Rated PG for mild comic violence. 


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