Alright, pop that tape in – careful not to snap the flap – and let’s rewind to the turn of the millennium. Six years after the surprising live-action success of The Flintstones (1994), Universal decided to roll the big stone wheel back, giving us The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas (2000). A prequel? With a completely new cast? It felt like a gamble even then, a strange B-side to the hit single we’d all worn out on our VCRs. Did we need to know how Fred met Wilma, or Barney met Betty? Maybe not, but Hollywood, much like the Great Gazoo, works in mysterious ways.
Back to Bedrock (Before Bedrock)
The premise whisks us away from comfortable suburban Bedrock to the glitzy, prehistoric lights of Rock Vegas. Fred Flintstone (Mark Addy, bringing a surprisingly game energy) and Barney Rubble (Stephen Baldwin, stepping into Rick Moranis's sizable shoes) are two quarry-working bachelors looking for love. Meanwhile, Wilma Slaghoople (Kristen Johnston, perfectly cast with her statuesque frame and comic timing) is fleeing her overbearing mother (the legendary Joan Collins, chewing the scenery with delightful gusto) and the unwanted advances of slimy casino magnate Chip Rockefeller (Thomas Gibson). Naturally, Betty O'Shale (Jane Krakowski, bubbly as ever) is working as a waitress, and soon the iconic couples collide amidst misunderstandings, rock puns, and Chip's nefarious schemes.
The casting was always going to be the boulder in the room. Replacing John Goodman and Rick Moranis felt near-impossible. Mark Addy (later King Robert Baratheon in Game of Thrones) does a commendable job capturing Fred's boisterous spirit, even if he lacks Goodman's imposing presence. Stephen Baldwin offers a different, perhaps slightly less endearing, take on Barney. But the standout, without a doubt, is Kristen Johnston. Fresh off her Emmy-winning run on 3rd Rock from the Sun, she embodies Wilma's grace and eventual exasperation flawlessly. It feels less like an imitation and more like a genuine interpretation. And let's not forget Alan Cumming pulling double duty, voicing the controversial Great Gazoo (yes, that Gazoo) and appearing physically as rock star Mick Jagged in a truly bizarre, yet somehow fitting, cameo. It’s a performance choice that feels uniquely… early 2000s.
Yabba Dabba Do…n't Forget the Budget!
Director Brian Levant, returning from the 1994 original, clearly understands the visual language of Hanna-Barbera. The commitment to bringing this cartoon world to life is, once again, pretty astonishing. The production design bursts with colour and playful prehistoric interpretations of modern life. Those rock cars, the elaborate casino sets, the animal-powered appliances – there's a tangible quality here that CGI often struggles to replicate. Remember, this was an $83 million production back in 2000 (that's like, $150 million today!). They clearly spent the money trying to capture that Bedrock-meets-Vegas aesthetic, filming in striking locations like Utah's Glen Canyon and the familiar Vasquez Rocks in California (a pilgrimage site for Star Trek fans!).
While the first film relied heavily on Jim Henson's Creature Shop for Dino and other creatures, this prequel leans a bit more into the burgeoning CGI of the era, particularly for Gazoo. Watching it now, some of that digital work definitely shows its age, feeling a little floaty compared to the solid, practical sets and props. But the ambition is undeniable. They built large chunks of Rock Vegas! That dedication to physical craft, even when supplemented by early CGI, gives it that distinct late-VHS/early-DVD era feel.
Rock Vegas Odds
So, how does it stack up? Let's be honest, Viva Rock Vegas didn't capture the magic (or the box office) of its predecessor. It unfortunately bombed, making back only around $59.5 million worldwide against that hefty budget. Critics were generally unkind, and audiences seemed unsure about the recasting and the need for a prequel. The script, penned by a team including Deborah Kaplan and Harry Elfont (Can't Hardly Wait), hits the expected beats but lacks some of the charm and wit that made the first film connect. Some of the jokes land with a thud harder than Fred bowling, and the plot feels thinner than a Bronto Rib.
Yet, there’s an undeniable, almost goofy earnestness to it. The cast commits fully to the absurdity. Johnston and Krakowski have genuine chemistry, and seeing Fred and Barney as young(er) goofs has its moments. It also marked the final film appearance of the great Harvey Korman (reuniting briefly with his Flintstones co-star Collins) as Colonel Slaghoople, adding a touch of bittersweet nostalgia. It’s packed with visual gags and rock puns, aiming squarely for family fun, even if it doesn’t always hit the brontosaurus burger bullseye.
VHS Heaven Rating: 5/10
The rating reflects a film bursting with visual ambition and featuring a few standout performances (especially Kristen Johnston), but ultimately hampered by a weaker script, awkward pacing, and the inescapable shadow of the original cast. It tried hard, spent big, and looks the part, but the heart and humor feel diluted. It wasn't the slam dunk the studio hoped for, existing now as more of a curious footnote than a beloved classic.
Still, for a dose of pure, unfiltered turn-of-the-millennium family filmmaking, with its mix of impressive practical sets and occasionally wonky early CGI, Viva Rock Vegas offers a specific kind of nostalgic charm. It’s a brightly coloured, slightly frantic trip back to a time when studios would still gamble big on bringing cartoons to life, rock puns and all. Maybe keep the fast-forward button handy, but it’s not quite bedrock bottom.