The Cowboy Way/Beverly Hills Cop III/Renaissance Man/The Flintstones/Little Buddha

Gene Siskel - Host: And that, of course, is John Goodman as Fred Flintstone in "The Flintstones", and boy, I really didn't like this picture. I mean, it looks great, but these characters and this story, what a crushing bore. Reportedly, there were thirty-two writers assigned over the years to this script; I've got news for ya: They needed at least thirty-THREE.

[...]

Gene Siskel - Host: All of the invention went into the film's production design and to its omnipresent marketing campaign. In fact, I'd rather have seven of those McDonald's souvenir glasses than pay the $7

[Roger laughs]

Gene Siskel - Host: to see "The Flintstones".

Roger Ebert - Host: Well, I was disappointed in it too, and I agree with you, it's a great looking production.

Gene Siskel - Host: Yes.

Roger Ebert - Host: But why, y'know, sure, it's a family movie, but in particular, I think it's a movie that kids might go to. And what do kids care about office politics...

Gene Siskel - Host: Right.

Roger Ebert - Host: ...Hanky-panky with the secretary...

Gene Siskel - Host: Yes!

Roger Ebert - Host: ...Adoption problems.

Gene Siskel - Host: Yes.

Roger Ebert - Host: Uh, mother-in-law problems, embezzlement, kids don't know what embezzlement is. This entire plot is like, uh, some kind of a grown-up office politics movie that has nothing to do with "The Flintstones".

Gene Siskel - Host: You could tell that it started in the '80s, the late '80s, y'know, the evil businessman, but who is this picture intended for? You're absolutely right. Make it young, make it charming, or make it smart, y'know, like they did with "Wayne's World", a goofy- the "Wayne's World" adaption from TV to film is one of the classics...

Roger Ebert - Host: Yeah, uh-huh.

Gene Siskel - Host: ...of this new big genre.

Roger Ebert - Host: And this is one of the, one of the dogs.