The Flintstones In Viva Rock Vegas

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The Flintstones In Viva Rock Vegas

Like last year’s awful but profitable Inspector Gadget, Viva Rock Vegas exists for only two reasons: because it provides a profitable outlet for theme-park rides, merchandising, and fast-food tie-ins, and because special-effects advances have made the dream of a partially computer-generated Dino and Great Gazoo a relatively affordable reality. Otherwise, Viva Rock Vegas has no right or reason to exist, but since when does that stop a film from getting made? Performed with all the subtlety, nuance, and enthusiasm of a road-company production of You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown, Viva Rock Vegas gives audiences an Amazonian Wilma (Kristen Johnston, who doesn’t even attempt to replicate the character’s voice or mannerisms), a trampy Betty (Jane Krakowski), a seemingly mentally impaired Barney (Stephen Baldwin), and a Fred Flintsone (Mark Addy) with a shaky American accent. And, of course, there’s no forgetting Alan Cumming’s regrettable turn as The Great Gazoo, the pint-sized, effete green alien (and Jar Jar Binks equivalent) whose appearance signaled the series’ artistic bankruptcy, a role played in Scooby Doo by Scrappy Doo. The original—and it cannot be stressed enough that the term is used loosely—Flintstones movie famously boasted 32 screenwriters, many more than were credited. Somehow, Viva Rock Vegas’ screenplay (which, it should be noted, involves the two couples’ courtship and a trip to Rock Vegas) is, if anything, even more devoid of personality or charm. Viva Rock Vegas should fail to delight and/or amuse both the young and the young at heart.

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