justin-fencsak When i first saw this on VHS years ago, I enjoyed what would've happened if Christmas was in the Stone Age. The result is a great cartoon that has great music, decent animation, and a good plot, which centers on Fred Flinstone becoming Santa Claus, disappointing his boss at work. Along the way, Fred and Barney travel across the world and finally come home after getting lost in China. In the end, Fred thanks Santa for helping out and his boss decides to keep Fred's job. While not the first Flinstones Christmas themed cartoon (that honor goes to an xmas episode of The Flinstones), it's the best that Hanna Barbera has ever made.

Shawn Watson I'm not really sure how Christmas can exist in a prehistory setting, but I tried not to let this spoil my enjoyment.Fred is roped into playing Santa Claus by his boss for a bunch of underprivileged kids, but the real Santa falls off his roof and sprains his ankle, forcing Fred to take his place.As Xmas Specials go it's certainly one of the better ones. But it gets off to an iffy start when they recycle a song, frame-by-frame, from the dull as ditchwater 1972 Special 'A Christmas Story', thankfully the rest is all Flintstones. And without the distracting laugh track which frequently spoiled enjoyment of the TV show.

TheLittleSongbird It is true that it isn't as good as the classic TV show, which is a wonderful childhood favourite, but A Flinstone Christmas was pretty good. The voice cast do a great job, even those who replaced the original voice actor(ie. Harry Corden replacing Alan Reed) bear strong resemblance to the original voice actors. I loved Mel Blanc as Barney, Blanc is without a doubt one of the best voice actors ever, and perfectly captured Barney's zaniness and goofiness. Jean Vyder Pyl is still great as Wilma, and Gay Autterson also does a good job as Betty, though not quite as good as Bea Benaderet. The character characterisation isn't as strong as it is in the TV show however.That said, the animation is beautiful and stays true to the style in the TV show. I especially loved the image of Santa's sleigh pulled by the eight reindeer. And I loved the music, and contrary to another reviewer I liked the song Wilma sang to cheer up Pebbles. I liked the story too, about Santa(well voiced by Hal Smith) having an accident at Fred's house and Fred and Barney have to continue his run. All in all, I liked it, it isn't as good as the show, but it is nice seasonal fun. 8/10 Bethany Cox

richard.fuller1 Hey, kids, knock it off. Christmas isn't all about presents, ya know? Who raised you selfish little ruffians? This would be followed by Casper's First Christmas and the movie Yogi's First Christmas.They are kind of like a trilogy of poor story characterization, draining the last bits of life out of dead corpses, all to make a quick buck, for whatever it was supposed to do.Christmas classics like the Rankin Bass offerings? I Don't Think So!! The Flintstones episode when Fred works as the department store Santa then fills in for the real Santa is a gem. It has aged well and is remarkably sincere.Children should be made happy during the holidays and their love for Santa Claus is natural.In the '77 Flintstones Christmas, the kids rant and rave for Santa and those presents like drunks on the weekend in a bar wanting a stripper.Pebbles and Bamm Bamm are now small kids, not quite teens.Mr. Slate: "If Flintstone doesn't get here in five minutes, he's fired!" Wilma: "Ohhhh, that Fred! Wait till I get my hands on him!" This is the plot.Wilma and Mr. Slate don't gradually get mad at Fred, they turn it on like a faucet.Where's Fred? Get Mad.Also worth noting an incredibly weak song that is sung (was it supposed to be Wilma singing?) to Pebbles about having hope. I guess hope that Santa Claus will arrive. Boo Boo Bear sings this same song in the Yogi's First Christmas cartoon. Not rich their either.There is a much later Christmas special where Fred does the Ebenezer Scrooge bit, which believe it or not, it was just fun seeing the Bedrock gang again.In the end, that is about where this Christmas special will stand; as a transition from the sixties originality, Flintstones vitamins and Fruity and Cocoa Pebbles, to 1970s weak duplication, the movie specials, finally the real life transitions and direct to video.No harm will be in this cartoon, it may be brainless enough to watch at Christmas, but it could have definitely been stronger.