The Flintstones & WWE: Stone Age SmackDown!

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The Flintstones & WWE:
Stone Age SmackDown!
The Flintstones & WWE- Stone Age SmackDown.jpg
Blu-ray cover featuring John Cenastone and Fred Flintstone on the foreground.
Directed by Spike Brandt
Tony Cervone
Written byJed Elinoff
Scott Thomas
Based on The Flintstones
by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera
Produced bySpike Brandt
Tony Cervone
Starring Jeff Bergman
Kevin Michael Richardson
Tress MacNeille
Grey Griffin
Brie Bella
Nikki Bella
Daniel Bryan
John Cena
Mark Henry
Rey Mysterio
CM Punk
The Undertaker
Mr. McMahon
Edited byBruce King
Kyle Stafford
Music by Austin Wintory
Production
companies
Distributed by Warner Home Video
Release date
  • March 10, 2015 (2015-03-10)
Running time
51 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

The Flintstones & WWE: Stone Age SmackDown! is a 2015 American direct-to-video animated film starring The Flintstones. It is the second co-production between Warner Bros. Animation and WWE Studios following Scooby-Doo! WrestleMania Mystery . The film features Fred Flintstone, Barney Rubble and the whole Bedrock gang with stone age versions of WWE Superstars and Divas. [1] It was released on March 10, 2015, by Warner Home Video. [2]

Contents

It is the first new Flintstones production in over 14 years since The Flintstones: On the Rocks , 55 years after the original 1960s series and also the first Flintstones film without the original creators William Hanna and Joseph Barbera, who both died respectively in 2001 and 2006. The film marked the first time the character of Mr. Slate was voiced by someone other than John Stephenson, who later died of Alzheimer's disease on May 15, 2015. This was also Russi Taylor's last film before her death on July 26, 2019. The film was directed by Spike Brandt and Tony Cervone. [3]

Plot

Fred Flintstone has promised his wife Wilma they will take a vacation. He wants to request days off work and money from his boss Mr. Slate who just then is hiring an indirect relative named John Cenastone. After getting into trouble, Fred is saved by Cenastone. Fred doesn't receive money from Mr. Slate and Fred doesn't know how to tell Wilma the bad news. At a fair organized by the Lodge of the Water Buffaloes, Fred devises a way to earn money: he enlists Hoppy, the "hoparoo" of his friend Barney Rubble, to challenge people to boxing matches. When they arrive, among other attractions are the Boulder Twins who open a kissing booth causing jealousy in Fred and Barney's wives Wilma and Betty.

Hoppy defeats many people, but his winning streak ends when the ruffian CM Punkrock humiliates him. Angered, Barney challenges Punkrock and defeats him. Punkrock exits angrily with his teammate Marble Henry. Fred envisions a great opportunity to earn even more money with wrestling after the success of Barney's performance. They are greeted by a seafood seller named Mr. McMagma and they decide to organize an event at an abandoned circus.

Fred asks Cenastone to recruit more wrestlers. He brings Rey Mysteriopal, a masked clerk; and The Undertaker, a somber gravedigger. The event begins between Cenastone and Mysteriopal, as they are on friendly terms, the fight fails. Fred decides that Barney should wrestle against Undertaker. Barney protests, but Fred presses him. Just when Barney is about to win the match, Wilma and Betty arrive and scold their husbands. Everything is resolved, especially because Fred has earned enough money.

However, Fred aspires to more, inspired by McMagma, and decides to organize a second event. Fred rents the Bedrock Stadium. He promotes a rematch between Barney and Punkrock. Punkrock accepts and Fred also enlists Henry and the Boulder Twins. However, Barney does not agree to participate. Fred leaves without him, starting his show. Mysteriopal and Cenastone fight again, but people are cheering for Barney. Fred announces that Barney will not fight. The other fighters exit, disappointed that Fred has neglected his friend and leaving Fred to face the opponents alone.

Fred takes courage and faces Punkrock and his allies in the wrestling ring, but he is brutalized. Seeing his friend's sacrifice, Barney decides to go and face Punkrock, encouraging other wrestlers to participate. Even Wilma and Betty intimidate the Boulders and Barney and Betty's son Bamm-Bamm easily defeats Henry. Fred and Barney and their team win to great applause.

Fred decides to quit wrestling. He takes his profits and sells the idea to McMagma. At the end, the Flintstones, the Rubbles, and the wrestlers enjoy their vacations.

Cast

Additional Voices by Doug Erholtz, Charlie Hewson, and Tom Kenny. [4]

Development

According to Daniel Bryan, the wrestlers recorded their lines during SummerSlam in 2013. [5] Collette Sunderman was the casting and voice director. Also, this was the last WWE-related project CM Punk did until returning to be a contributor for WWE Backstage , and it was actually released over a year after his unfavorable departure from the company, but by the time he left, production and development of the movie was too far along to edit him out in any way without causing significant delays.

Reception

A review from Indiewire calls the film "a brand-new release that so meticulously recaptures the salad days of Hanna-Barbera (that it) only makes one yearn for more Flintstones cartoons". [6]

Home media

The film was initially released on DVD and Blu-Ray on March 10, 2015. On August 4, 2020, it was included in the DVD collection The Flintstones: 2 Movies & 5 Specials.

Related Research Articles

The Flintstones is an American animated sitcom produced by Hanna-Barbera Productions, which takes place in a romanticized Stone Age setting and follows the titular family, the Flintstones, and their next-door neighbors, the Rubbles. It was originally broadcast on ABC from September 30, 1960, to April 1, 1966, and was the first animated series with a prime-time slot on television.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pebbles Flintstone</span> Fictional character in The Flintstones

Pebbles Flintstone-Rubble is a fictional character in the Flintstones franchise. The red-haired daughter of Fred and Wilma Flintstone, Pebbles is born near the end of the third season. She is most famous in her infant form on The Flintstones, but has also appeared at various other ages, including as a teenager on the early 1970s spin-off The Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm Show and as an adult in three television films. She spent most of her time with Bamm-Bamm Rubble, her childhood best friend whom she eventually marries.

<i>The Flintstones</i> (film) 1994 film by Brian Levant

The Flintstones is a 1994 American family comedy film directed by Brian Levant and written by Tom S. Parker, Jim Jennewein, and Steven E. de Souza based on the 1960–1966 animated television series of the same name by Hanna-Barbera. The film stars John Goodman as Fred Flintstone, Rick Moranis as Barney Rubble, Elizabeth Perkins as Wilma Flintstone, and Rosie O'Donnell as Betty Rubble, along with Kyle MacLachlan as Cliff Vandercave, a villainous executive-vice president of Fred's company, Halle Berry as Sharon Stone, his seductive secretary, and Elizabeth Taylor, as Pearl Slaghoople, Wilma's mother. The B-52's performed their version of the cartoon's theme song, playing cavemen versions of themselves as the BC-52's.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fred Flintstone</span> Character from The Flintstones

Fred Flintstone is the main character of the animated sitcom The Flintstones, which aired during prime-time on ABC during the original series' run from 1960 to 1966. Fred is the husband of Wilma Flintstone and father of Pebbles Flintstone and together the family live in their homely cave in the town of Bedrock. His best friend is his next door neighbor, Barney, who has a wife named Betty.

<i>I Yabba-Dabba Do!</i> American TV series or program

I Yabba-Dabba Do! is a 1993 American animated made-for-television film based on the 1960s animated series, The Flintstones and is a continuation of the series’ spin-off, The Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm Show. It premiered on ABC on February 7, 1993.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wilma Flintstone</span> Fictional character in the animated TV series The Flintstones

Wilma Anna Flintstone is a fictional character in the television animated series The Flintstones. Wilma is the red-headed woman married to caveman Fred Flintstone, daughter of Pearl Slaghoople, and mother of Pebbles Flintstone. Her best friend is her next door neighbor, Betty Rubble.

Bedrock (<i>The Flintstones</i>) Fictional town in The Flintstones

Bedrock is the fictional prehistoric town where the characters of the animated television series The Flintstones reside.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barney Rubble</span> Fictional character in the television animated series The Flintstones

Bernard Matthew "Barney" Rubble is a fictional character who appears in the television animated series The Flintstones. He is the diminutive, blond-haired caveman husband of Betty Rubble and adoptive father of Bamm-Bamm Rubble. His best friend is his next door neighbor, Fred.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Betty Rubble</span> Fictional character in The Flintstones

Betty Rubble is a fictional character in the television animated series The Flintstones and its spin-offs and live-action motion pictures. She is the black-haired wife of caveman Barney Rubble and the adoptive mother of Bamm-Bamm Rubble. Her best friend is her next-door neighbor Wilma Flintstone.

<i>The Jetsons Meet the Flintstones</i> 1987 film

The Jetsons Meet the Flintstones is a 1987 animated crossover made-for-television film produced by Hanna-Barbera for syndication as part of the Hanna-Barbera Superstars 10 series. The two-hour special stars the cast of the Hanna-Barbera sitcoms The Flintstones and The Jetsons as they cross paths following a time travel experiment gone wrong.

<i>The Man Called Flintstone</i> 1966 film by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera

The Man Called Flintstone is a 1966 American animated musical comedy film produced by Hanna-Barbera Productions and distributed by Columbia Pictures. The second film by Hanna-Barbera following Hey There, It's Yogi Bear! (1964), it was directed by series creators/studio founders William Hanna and Joseph Barbera from a screenplay by Harvey Bullock and R. S. Allen.

<i>The New Fred and Barney Show</i> American animated television series

The New Fred and Barney Show is an American animated television series revival and spin-off of The Flintstones produced by Hanna-Barbera that aired on NBC from February 3 to October 20, 1979. The series marked the first time Henry Corden performed the voice of Fred Flintstone for a regular series.

Dino (<i>The Flintstones</i>) Dinosaur character in The Flintstones

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<i>The Flintstone Comedy Show</i> U.S. animated television series (1980–81)

The Flintstone Comedy Show is an American animated television series revival and spin-off of The Flintstones produced by Hanna-Barbera that aired on NBC from November 22, 1980, to October 24, 1981. Outside North America, the show was released under title of Flintstone Frolics.

<i>Hollyrock-a-Bye Baby</i> American TV series or program

Hollyrock-a-Bye Baby is a 1993 American animated made-for-television film based on the 1960s series classic, The Flintstones. It first aired on ABC on December 5, 1993. It is the sequel to I Yabba-Dabba Do! and is followed by A Flintstone Family Christmas, which aired less than two weeks later on the same network.

<i>The Flintstones: On the Rocks</i> 2001 television film

The Flintstones: On the Rocks is a 2001 American animated made-for-television comedy-drama film featuring characters from The Flintstones franchise. Co-directed by Chris Savino and David Smith, it was dedicated to Hoyt Curtin and William Hanna. Debuting on November 3, 2001 on Cartoon Network, On the Rocks was the last Flintstones production until the 2015 direct-to-video film The Flintstones & WWE: Stone Age SmackDown!. In addition to the show's traditional animation style, the film also utilizes stop-motion animation.

The Flintstones: Little Big League is a 1978 animated television special featuring characters from The Flintstones franchise. It was produced by the Australian division of Hanna-Barbera and aired on NBC on April 6, 1978. It was an hour-long primetime special, as part of The Flintstone Primetime Specials.

<i>A Flintstone Family Christmas</i> 1993 animated Christmas special

A Flintstone Family Christmas is a 1993 animated Christmas television special featuring characters from The Flintstones franchise. It was produced by Hanna-Barbera and aired on ABC on December 18, 1993. The special was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award in 1994 for Outstanding Animated Program. This is the only appearance of Stoney and the final appearance of Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm in their adult forms as well as their children, Chip and Roxy. Hanna-Barbera continued doing the series but with the original timeline.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bamm-Bamm Rubble</span> Fictional character and adopted son of Barney and Betty Rubble

Bamm-Bamm Rubble is a fictional character in the Flintstones franchise, the adopted son of Barney and Betty Rubble. He is most famous in his toddler form on the animated series, but has also appeared at various other ages, including as a teenager on the early 1970s spin-off The Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm Show and as an adult in three television films. Cartoonist Gene Hazelton contributed to the original model sheets for the character, and he has said that he based Bamm-Bamm's design on his own son, Wes.

Los Mármol is a series of 6 animated shorts spun-off from The Flintstones that aired during commercial breaks on the Latin American Cartoon Network in 2002. It is a parody of The Osbournes, a reality show that aired on MTV. The titles have been changed to Spanish and Portuguese but all the episodes are in English.

References

  1. "WWE Studios". wwe.com. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
  2. Goldman, Eric (1 December 2014). "The Flintstones and WWE: Stone Age Smackdown Trailer". ign.com. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
  3. "The Flintstones & WWE: Stone Age SmackDown!". Turner Classic Movies . Retrieved April 25, 2016.
  4. "The Flintstones & WWE: Stone Age Smackdown". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
  5. Fowler, Matt (10 March 2015). "WWE's Daniel Bryan on Becoming a Part of the Flintstones Universe". ign.com. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
  6. Ehrbar, Greg (March 14, 2015). "Blu-ray Review: "The Flintstones & WWE - Stone Age Smackdown"". indiewire.com.