The Flintstones: On the Rocks

The Flintstones: On the Rocks is a 2001 American animated made-for-television film featuring characters from The Flintstones franchise. It debuted on November 3, 2001 on Cartoon Network and was directed by Chris Savino and David Smith. It was dedicated to Hoyt Curtin (longtime Hanna-Barbera conductor and composer) and William Hanna (creator of The Flintstones and founder of Hanna-Barbera Productions with partner Joseph Barbera). It was the last Flintstones production until the direct-to-video film The Flintstones & WWE: Stone Age SmackDown!. In addition to the show's traditional animation style the film also featured stop-motion animation.

In format, the film was intended to emulate the first two seasons of the 1960s series, distinctly more mature and aimed at older audiences than later seasons, and therefore chose to focus more on the relationships between the original core cast of Fred, Barney, Wilma and Betty. The story is set before Pebbles' birth, at a time Fred and Wilma's marriage is troubled, prompting the Rubbles to take them to Rockapulco for their anniversary vacation, to save their marriage. But while there, Fred and Wilma both find themselves tempted in other directions.

Plot[]

Fred and Wilma Flintstone visit a family therapist to try to fix their faltering marriage. Wilma is growing tired of Fred's attitude, especially while Barney and Betty are enjoying a happy life well into their marriage. Their session ends with a physical altercation between the two. On Fred and Wilma's anniversary, which they both forgot, the Rubbles arrange a trip to Rockapulco in an attempt to save the Flintstones' marriage.

Shortly after their arrival, a thief, Xavier, steals a diamond from a jewelry store and is chased by the guard into the same hotel the Flintstones and Rubbles are staying at. In the ensuing chaos, Xavier's bag is switched with Wilma's, and that's when he immediately begins plotting to get the diamond back. At first, things do not improve between Fred and Wilma, to the point that Wilma lashes out at Fred and nearly decides to divorce him, but when she stumbles across the diamond in her suitcase and, assuming that Fred bought it as a surprise present, she quickly makes up with him. Capitalizing on the circumstances, Fred goes along with the charade, but finds that their newfound passion is short-lived, as Fred's demeanor slowly puts Wilma off again. While spying on Wilma, Xavier notices this and masquerades as a suave Englishman in order to seduce Wilma by inviting her to dinner. Wilma accepts the invitation and spends time with Xavier.

Fred, feeling guilty, decides to make it up to Wilma, but catches her from afar with Xavier and is heartbroken, and he starts to drink himself silly while speaking with another attractive woman at the bar. Wilma rebuffs Xavier's advances out of loyalty to Fred, but changes her mind when she sees him with the lady. While dancing, however, Xavier reveals his true intentions and attempts to take the diamond from Wilma, who was wearing it as a necklace. A chase ensues throughout the ballroom with Fred, Barney and Xavier each trying to get the diamond, but fails when it eventually falls into Wilma's hands, prompting Xavier to abduct her and flee in his car. The ensuing car chase eventually leads to a bridge above a volcano, where Xavier threatens to kill Wilma if she does not hand the diamond over. Fred appears and gives a passionate speech about how he has not realized until now that even though he was not rich enough to buy the diamond, he is still the richest man in the world just by having Wilma as his wife.

Fred tries to attack him, but Xavier punches him unconscious. Wilma beats up Xavier in retaliation and ends up getting him arrested by the same lady who Fred spoke with at the bar earlier, who is revealed to have been a policewoman on Xavier's trail. With their marriage restored, Fred and Wilma enjoy the rest of their trip, while Barney and Betty begin to bicker about their own marriage after seeing the passion Fred and Wilma ultimately displayed for each other. Over the end credits, Dino, who was assigned by Fred to guard their home, is revealed to have made a complete mess and left the home in the hands of his friends before leaving on his own trip.

Production[]

Chris Savino, who served as co-writer, co-director, and uncredited producer of this film, had also later took over as showrunner for the revival seasons of Dexter's Laboratory which premiered on the same year and month, and The Powerpuff Girls for the last two seasons as well as being a writer for the previous seasons, serve as producer on the first season of Johnny Test, director of Kick Buttowski: Suburban Daredevil and then created The Loud House for Nickelodeon. He also pitched Foe Paws to Cartoon Network, which was not picked up for a full series.

It is the only Flintstones production by Cartoon Network Studios after Hanna-Barbera was absorbed into Warner Bros. Animation in 2001 (Warner Bros. later re-acquired Cartoon Network Studios from Turner Broadcasting System, reuniting Cartoon Network Studios with Warner Bros. Animation, on March 4, 2019). Genndy Tartakovsky, creator of Dexter's Laboratory and Samurai Jack, served as supervising producer for this film.

Chris Savino and David Smith didn't care for Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm, so the film took place before they were born. Since its original broadcast, the film has not been released on home video, though bootleg copies exist via various sources. The film was banned from broadcast on Cartoon Network, not due to the topic of divorce (despite possible rumors), but due to the negative portrayal of Hispanic people.

Voice cast[]

Jeff Bergman as Fred Flintstone, Parking Guard, Vendor
Tress MacNeille as Wilma Flintstone, Woman Scream #2
Kevin Michael Richardson as Barney Rubble, Hector, Jewel Guard
Grey DeLisle as Betty Rubble, Mystery Woman
Jeff Bennett as Xavier, Club Announcer, Pool Waiter
Frank Welker as Dino, Monkey, Elevator Guy
Tom Kenny as Bellboy, Mammoth Vendor, Bed Monkey, Bowling Announcer
Zelda Rubinstein as Dr. Schwartzen Quartz (Psychiatrist)
Joey Altruda as Stoney Altruda
John Kassir as Concierge, Bartender, Border Guard, Florist
John Stephenson as Mr. Slate, Old Man
Oren Waters as Singer (baritone)
Maxi Anderson as Singer (soprano)
Carmen Twillie as Singer (tenor)
Wil Wheaton as Singer (bass)
Mark Mangini as Dino (archived sound)