Jetsons Meet the Flintstones, The (Blu-ray Review)
- Review Date: Apr 29, 2024
- Format: Blu-ray Disc
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Director
Don Lusk, Ray PattersonRelease Date(s)
1987 (February 20, 2024)Studio(s)
Hanna-Barbera (Warner Archive Collection)- Film/Program Grade: B-
- Video Grade: B-
- Audio Grade: B+
- Extras Grade: F
Review
During the 1980s, Hanna-Barbera was in full swing with any number of TV shows, including their previous hits which were in constant rotation in re-runs. However, a return to the classic characters of old in some new adventures was definitely needed, and from 1987 to 1988, they produced ten syndicated made-for-TV feature films starring many of their most popular stars, including Yogi Bear, Scooby-Doo, The Flintstones, The Jetsons, Huckleberry Hound, Top Cat, and many others. This series eventually became known collectively as Hanna-Barbera’s Superstars 10, and 36 years later, the folks at the Warner Archive Collection have released all of the films on Blu-ray for the first time.
Premiering on November 15, 1987, The Jetsons Meets the Flintstones is an obvious pairing if ever there was one. In the future, George is having difficulties at work since there appears to be a mole planted by Mr. Spacely’s rival Cogswell. In the past, Fred and Barney have recently lost their jobs, intending to keep it a secret from Wilma and Betty while taking them on a camping trip. Meanwhile, Elroy invents a time machine, sending the Jetsons into the past, whereupon they meet and befriend the Flintstones. Fred tries to get his and Barney’s jobs back by borrowing some of George’s futuristic gadgets to impress their boss Mr. Slate, but things go awry when the Flintstones are accidentally sent to the future, where Mr. Spacely and Cogswell are waiting to cash in on them. Back in the past, George and Jane go out and get jobs while Judy falls in love with a local teen rock star. However, both families become homesick, and it’s up to Henry Orbit and Rosie the Robot to try and fix the time machine and get everybody home.
This third Hanna-Barbera production seems like it could’ve easily been the first since, at the time, both animated families were arguably the most popular of the lot. The results are fun, with both families playing fish out of water and experiencing aspects of the past and the future, particularly when it comes to everyday household-related items and gadgets. The Judy Jetson love subplot feels a bit tacked on just to give her something to do, but it does produce a rather catchy little rock song called Bedrock Rock (which also acts as a prelude to Rockin’ with Judy Jetson). For me personally, The Jetsons Meet the Flintstones was another one that I watched more often as a child, though I hadn’t seen it since then. There’s no real stakes or a ticking clock for the time machine plot, but it doesn’t matter all that much in the end. It’s simply an excuse for each family to be reactionary to the new worlds that surround them. The only thing missing is the lack of Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm, which the producers likely couldn’t work into the plot that easily.
The Jetsons Meet the Flintstones was animated and finished on 35 mm film at the aspect ratio of 1.33:1. Warner Archive brings the film to Blu-ray on a BD-50 disc, maintaining its original television aspect ratio. Once again, bitrates run between 30 and 40 Mbps with the linework, cel dirt, and other debris of the original animation retained. However, this is one of the softest presentations so far. Some of it might be inherent to the original production, but it does look a bit more scrubbed than the previous two films. However, not to the point of appearing inorganic. Color and contrast are ideal as usual, but it could be a sharper and more distinct image. How much of that is down to the remastering process versus the finished animation is unclear.
Audio is presented in English 2.0 DTS-HD Master Audio with optional subtitles in English SDH. On the other hand, the audio is the cleanest and most natural so far. Dialogue, score, and sound effects are well-balanced and there are no signs of distracting hiss or distortion.
No extras have been included with this single-disc release of The Jetsons Meet the Flintstones, but for people of a certain age who saw these films when they originally aired on TV, or rented them on VHS through Worldvision Enterprises, seeing them in such high quality is a real treat. Thankfully, Warner Archive realized that not everybody may like every film in this series, and they’ve given them the opportunity to purchase them individually, or pick them all up in the Hanna-Barbera Superstars 10 Blu-ray boxed set; which, if you’re planning on getting all of them, is the better bargain. Regardless, it’s great to see these films finally make it past the DVD format.
- Tim Salmons
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