The Flintstones (TV Series) Rip Van Flintstone (1965) User Reviews

He'll know if you're the real McCoy, I mean Flintstone!

[williamlangan-22870 · 10/10 · 24 May 2020]

Wow, this episode brings back fond memories! It's funny how there are a lot of errors and mistakes mentioned but they really don't take away from the humor and the lesson in Season 6's Rip Van Flintstone, written by Tony Benedict. It's also a favorite episode of my cousin! John Stephenson plays Mr. Slate and the Gatekeeper. Daws Butler plays the exasperated Supermarket clerk and Sandy, Fred's victim. Henry Corden plays the adult Bamm Bamm and it sounds like he's the one who gives information about BJ Rubble. Don Messick plays the Hunter. Plot summary: At the supermarket, Fred decides to try a new skate bone, much to the chagrin of Wilma who warns Fred "You're making a spectacle out of yourself!" He causes damage to the revolving door and makes a shambles of the store in general. Wilma, embarrassed, insists on being in charge of the shopping. "The management would be extremely grateful," the Supermarket clerk wryly replies. Fred asks if the clerk is insinuating (another big word, meaning implying) he's a troublemaker. He snaps at Fred "No, I'm not insinuating, I'm telling you!" As they're going home, Wilma reminds Fred of the Slate company picnic. Pebbles wants to go and says "Pic-nic!" Wilma invites the Rubbles as well. So they arrive at the picnic and Mr. Slate welcomes everyone. Fred shouts "I hope the food is better this year!" Slate knows it's Fred right away and calls out ,"Starting a little early with the wise cracks this year, eh, Flintstone?" Then the company picture is taken, Fred gives a hot foot to Sandy. When Sandy finds out it was Fred, he squirts him with his flower and offers him an explosive cigar. Then Barney has a surprise for him- it's a wicked looking dragon in a box, which scares Fred. Fed up Fred goes up on a hill and takes a nap. When he wakes up, it's 20 years later. He has a long beard, which he thinks Barney glued on him. He sees the picnic area is empty and abandoned. He notices Bedrock's sign reads Population: 30,000 and remarks it's really only 2,000. After tripping on his beard several times, he ties it around his head. A hunter sees what he thinks is a large jackrabbit and shoots at Fred. Finally, Fred comes home and gives who he thinks is Wilma a kiss. When the woman turns around, it's not Wilma- and she slams him with a frying pan and sicks her dog Fang on Fred! So next door, Fred goes to see Barney. The man at the door tells Fred BJ Rubble moved out 20 years ago when he struck it rich in oil and lives in San Simeon Stone. "You must've been asleep for 20 years," the man tells Fred. Then Fred realizes he's slept his life away! So Fred goes to BJ's mansion. The man at the gate calls Barney who tells him to send Fred in. Barney is unsure it's Fred so he calls to see if Dino recognizes him. And sure enough, Dino pounces on Fred and licks him, just like in the old days! Then Barney knows it's Fred and Fred explains what happened. Barney lets Fred meet Pebbles and Bamm Bamm who are now grown up and married to each other, though at Fred's request, he introduces him as "Mr. Glump." Fred asks about Wilma and Barney says she lives in a cottage on her estate. Fred meets Wilma, who's now hard of hearing and seeing. Fred gets mad about telling her over and over who he is! Wilma asks if Fred were kidnapped. He just says "No, I just fell asleep!" Wilma gets angry and tells him "Wake up!" Then Fred wakes up young again with Wilma also "young and beautiful." He kisses her and Wilma says "I should have him take naps more often!" They hurry down the hill, just in time for the games. Fred and Barney join the cartwheel race and win with flying colors. Fred enters the pie eating contest against Sandy (another Sandy) and wins hands down! Mr. Slate offers to "take Fred's picture" from a trick camera. Fortunately, Fred laughs it off. Fred wins the prize for Most Valued Employee and is naturally surprised and touched. Trivia: There are 2 pictures of nude ladies up on the wall of BJ Rubble's house in Fred's dream. Also, the Slate Construction Company went out of business in Fred's dream. San Simeon Stone is a parody of William Randolph Hearst's castle. What I liked: The opening scene with Fred playing the skatebone is hilarious. Fred shows Wilma how the TV remote control works (a bird changes channels) "What will they think of next?," Fred asks. Wilma sarcastically responds "Something that will get you off your chair, I hope!" Oh yeah, the scene where practical jokes are dished out (from Fred, Sandy and Barney) is pretty funny. When Wilma (as an old lady) thinks Fred said "bread," Fred (as an old man) screams "I said I'm FRED! Not bread!" And the scene where Wilma wakes Fred up chokes me up, especially after a gloomy dream (a la It's A Wonderful Life). And of course, when Fred wins the prize, he looks like he wants to cry (I admit I did at the last watching). I guess the important lesson this episode teaches is to be a good friend and family member. 10 skatebones out of 10!

Fred Flintstone. Twenty years later.

[gregorycanfield · 10/10 · 2 July 2022]

When I reviewed Dino Goes Hollyrock, I credited that episode as the only cartoon that had ever gotten me emotional. I have since realized that the same observation applies to a few other episodes, as well. In this episode, Fred has a dream in which he is much older. He finds himself in a world where everything is changed. He manages to track down Barney (now a millionaire) and Wilma. However, only Dino remembered Fred, after so much time had passed. The scene where Fred sees Pebbles all grown up (and married to Bamm Bamm) is a tearjerker! They were "great kids," and Fred missed watching them grow up. It was great that Jean Vander Pyl did the voice for Pebbles grown up, since she was also baby Pebbles. When Fred wakes up, he benefits from his bad dream. He goes back to Slate's picnic, and has the time of his life. There is a discrepancy in this picnic scene. There is a character named "Sandy," which is completely different from an earlier character who was also called "Sandy." This had to have been some kind of mistake, but they just let it be. In any case, Alan Reed should have gotten some kind of award for his performance here, as well as a few other episodes. If it was ever possible to make a cartoon character seem real, Reed absolutely achieved that with Fred Flintstone.