Jetsons: The Movie is a 1990 animated science fiction film produced by Hanna-Barbera and released on July 6, 1990, by Universal Pictures based on the hit cartoon series, The Jetsons (the 1980s revival, in particular). The movie features the final voice roles of George O'Hanlon and Mel Blanc who both died during production of the film. It was dedicated to both their memories.
Plot
In the late 21st century, Spacely Sprockets and Spindles has opened a new mining colony on an asteroid. The proposed project is meant to produce product at 1/10 the cost of making the items on Earth. However, the factory continues to be sabotaged by someone or something, and as Cosmo Spacely (Mel Blanc) checks up on the 'Orbiting-Ore Asteroid' again, the latest head of the factory, Alexander Throttlebottom, has run off, making it four managers of the new plant that Spacely's lost so far.
Fearing for his company (and profits), Spacely names George Jetson (George O'Hanlon) as Throttlebottom's successor and sends George and his family to the plant. While the family is thoroughly upset from having to have been thrown from their normal life style (and the plans that they had that day), they set up apartments on the adjoining apartment community to the Asteroid and its neighboring shopping complex.
While it takes the family time to adjust, Elroy Jetson (Patric Zimmerman) meets a robot boy named Teddy-2 (Dana Hill), whom he first is at odds with, but eventually befriends. Teddy-2's father, Rudy-2 (Ronnie Schell), is the plant engineer and shows George around. Judy Jetson (Tiffany), meanwhile, is having a hard time adjusting, and accepting the fact that she lost her chance at a date with rock star Cosmic Cosmo (Steve McClintock) (which a friend of hers later takes), but soon feels better after meeting a teenage boy named Apollo Blue (Paul Kreppel).
George soon figures he's ready to set the plant running again, and Mr. Spacely is all set to see the plant working full-throttle, and soon to churn out the 1,000,000th Spacely Sprocket. However, the opening day festivities give way to panic as the factory is sabotaged once again.
Over the next several days, George and Rudy-2 try to fix things, but the problems persist, to the point that Mr. Spacely heads on up to check on things. Thinking he has to take charge, George stays overnight, only to fall asleep and be taken off by the mysterious saboteurs. Elroy, Teddy-2, and their neighbor Fergie Furbelow (Russi Taylor) sneak into the plant, and meet Squeep (Brian Cummings), a member of an adorable-looking alien race known as Grungees.
Squeep tells them (with Teddy-2 translating) that the factory is actually drilling into his people's community, which is based inside the asteroid. Soon, Jane, Judy, Apollo, Rudy-2, and Astro show up, and realize what is happening as well. George is found hog-tied in the Grungee's colony, and soon realizes just what the factory is doing.
But Spacely doesn't; seeing his factory at a stand-still, he starts it up (after disconnecting Rudy-2, who tries to stop him), nearly burying Elroy and Squeep alive under rubble, and prompting everyone in the asteroid to get top-side, where George manages to shut down the factory, and show his boss exactly what he's doing.
After some talk, when George finally stands up to his boss, telling him that all he cares about is money, they come to an agreement: the Grungees will run the plant, and create new Spacely Sprockets through recycling old ones (thus stopping the further destruction of the Grungee's homeworld). Spacely Sprockets reaches the 1,000,000th sprocket, and when George asks about being vice president, Spacely retorts, stating that "he's lucky that he'll be getting his old job back". Only when pressured by everyone else does he reluctantly promote him to vice president (without a raise). George however knows that with the Grungees now running the plant, he is no longer needed as head of the Asteroid and will have to return home.
And so, the Jetsons bid their new friends a tearful goodbye, and head back to their apartment on Earth. As the family passes over the factory, the Grungees arrange themselves to form the words: "THANKS GEORGE," as a final grateful goodbye to George for saving their home.
Cast
The film features roughly the same voice cast as the television series except for Judy and Elroy. Daws Butler, the original voice of Elroy, had died in 1988. The voice was provided by Patric Zimmerman. Janet Waldo, the original voice of Judy Jetson, recorded the part for this film but her voice was later replaced by then-pop starlet Tiffany. Studio executives hoped that Tiffany would attract a younger audience. Waldo continued to voice the part in subsequent Jetsons productions. Displeased with the casting change, voice director Andrea Romano had her name removed from the finished film.
Because George O'Hanlon, the voice of George Jetson, and Mel Blanc, the voice of Mr. Spacely, both died during production of the film, Jeff Bergman filled in for both characters in some scenes. The film was dedicated to the memories of both men. Tiffany sang three songs used in the film ("I Always Thought I'd See You Again", "You and Me", and "Home"), which are on the soundtrack album along with "Jetsons' Rap" by XXL and tracks by other artists.
Release
Jetsons: The Movie was originally slated for a 1989 release, but was delayed to avoid competition with Disney's The Little Mermaid, United Artists' All Dogs Go to Heaven, and Universal's own Back to the Future Part II. Universal released The Wizard in its place, which was responsible for introducing Super Mario Bros. 3 to the USA.
Home media releases
The film was first released on VHS and Laserdisc on October 25, 1990. On April 28, 2009, it was released for on DVD in the United States [2] and was aired in its original aspect ratio on Universal HD on February 2, 2007.
The film is also available via digital download on the Sony Entertainment Network Store.
Reception
Jetsons: The Movie received mainly negative reviews from critics, resulting in an 21% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. [3] The film is often both criticized and praised for its messages about protecting the environment, and observing ethical practices when doing business in developing countries. Jetsons: The Movie is also noted for its early use of CGI; the technique had already been used in Disney's The Great Mouse Detective. The animation artwork follows the lead of the series in its art direction and character designs, although additional flourishes such as full animation and form shadows on the characters were added for the film.[4] Siskel & Ebert gave this film two thumbs down.
Along with the negative critical response, the film was also a box office disappointment, mainly because of opening in less theaters. It opened at #4, behind Die Hard 2: Die Harder, Days of Thunder, and Dick Tracy, with a weekend gross of $5,029,640, for an average of $3,220 from 1,562 theaters. The film then lost 43% of its audience in its second weekend, falling to #10 with a second weekend gross of $2,850,120, averaging $1,820 from 1,566 theaters, and bringing its 10-day gross to $10,855,895. It ended up grossing only $20,305,841 in the United States.[5].
Soundtrack
The soundtrack was released by MCA Records on May 25, 1990. The film's score, composed by John Debney, was left off the commercial release but was later issued as a promotional album with his score for the TV movie Jonny's Golden Quest. "I Always Thought I'd See You Again" by Tiffany was released as a single.
- "We're the Jetsons" (Jetsons' Rap) - XXL
- "With You All the Way" - Shane Sutton
- "You and Me" - Tiffany
- "I Always Thought I'd See You Again" - Tiffany
- "Maybe Love" - Steve McClintock
- "Stayin' Together" - Shane Sutton
- "Through the Blue" - Gayle Rose
- "Mall Theme" - John Duarte
- "Home" - Tiffany
- "Jetsons Main Title" - The Stunners
Marketing tie-ins
The summer the film was released, Kool-Aid had a tie-in where Kool-Aid points could be redeemed for a red Jetsons car featuring the cast. However, the promotion was not carried by some theaters, and instead of a red Jetsons car, the points were redeemed for a miniature movie poster. Wendy's restaurants had a Jetsons kids' meal tie-in. When clips from the film were shown on TV, scenes with George had re-dubbed lines from an unnamed voice actor. The commercials showed Wendy's founder Dave Thomas either in a theater watching the film or at his restaurant promoting the film.
A tie-in simulator ride titled "The Funtastic World of Hanna-Barbera" opened with Universal Studios Florida shortly prior to the film's release. In it, Joe Barbera and Bill Hanna state that Elroy Jetson will star in their next project (presuming the film), which angers Dick Dastardly and Muttley and causes them to kidnap Elroy, and Yogi Bear must save him. Merchandise based on the film was sold at the ride's gift shop. Also in 1990, Ralston released an apple and cinnamon flavored Jetsons Cereal.[6]
Real World References
There is a scene where Jane, Astro and Rosie are watching a soap opera. At the end, it is revealed to be All My Androids, a reference to the hit drama classic All My Children. One of the houses at the Jetsons new neighborhood reads "Century 2200", a reference to Century 21.
See also
References
External links
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The Jetsons (ABC, 1962–1963 and syndication, 1985–1987) · Space Stars (Astro and the Space Mutts segment) (NBC, 1981–1982) · Spaceboy Zoom and His Dog Astro (2013)
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Jetsons: The Movie (theatrical film, 1990) · The Jetsons (2012)
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