Applicability, combined with Values Resonance: Although this adaptation tends to get passed over because of its relative quality, there is something to be said for the concept that Spacely wanted to follow, that can be applied to not only the time the film was released, but to modern day as well. That is, he wants to manufacture his products at 1/10th the cost he incurs on Earth. He brings a manufacturing plant to an ore asteroid, but ignores the plight he is causing to a lesser-considered species, the Grungees, as the plant's boring drill is actively destroying their home. Spacely does eventually outsource the work to the Grungees, but the analogy of environmentalism present from the 1970s through the 1990s, as well as local damage from outsourcing the work to a foreign location to save moneynote ...such as electronics and other chemical-based products being produced in modern-day Southeast Asia. Although the analogy falls slightly short when its shown the Grungees' manufacturing and recycling is as good as the original. should not be lost on the viewer.
The beloved Jetsons theme song, this time fully orchestrated by John Debney.
Tiffany may not have done a good job voicing Judy, but there's no denying that "You and Me" is a kickass song!
Big-Lipped Alligator Moment: The "You and Me" song sequence. Though, as previously stated, the song is good and the animation is very very nice.
Director Displacement: Though Bill Hanna and Joe Barbera are credited as directors, H-B regular Iwao Takamoto reportedly did a bulk of the directing work.
Most fans of the original series shunned this film after Tiffany replaced Janet Waldo as the voice of Judy Jetson in a bit of cheap Stunt Casting by Universal.
The same happens in Latin America, except with the whole cast.
Harsher in Hindsight: The thick, choking smog clouds seen at the film's start didn't seem like reality even in 1990....then in 2023, Canadian wildfire smoke resulted in thick layers of smog and smoke settling over both Canada and parts of the United States, leading to both breathing problems and a noticeably post-apocalyptic feel.
Hilarious in Hindsight: Shane Sutton sings the line "I know I can count on you" in "Stayin' Together", a cut from this movie's soundtrack. Five years later he released a country music song titled "I've Got Your Number" which contains the lyric "now I know that I can't count on you".
Informed Wrongness: George's supposedly putting his job in front of his family. While it is difficult to suddenly move away, doing so for work is often a legitimate reason to do so, and this was a fairly major promotion that would potentially lead to better things for his family. He really isn't shown "ignoring" his family's issues so much as... they were just parts of the growing pains that come from moving, and his business at work seemed pretty part-and-partial for a new guy learning the responsibilities of his new job. The one thing George could really be blamed for was missing Elroy's ballgame, but even that was shown to be a one time sort of mistake and was actually rather understandable under the circumstances.
Misblamed: Casting director Andrea Romano had gone on record saying she received hate mail (despite having her name removed from the credits for that reason) for Judy's voice being changed from Janet Waldo to Tiffany, after the former recorded all her lines for the film, even though that was the fault of the executives at Universal, who cast Tiffany to cash in on her then popularity.
Moral Event Horizon: When Spacely's drills kill some innocent Grungies, he knew they were there and he started drilling anyway, and he fought to keep drilling until George shut the drill down via pinpoint sabotage.
Until it becomes clear what's going on, the scenes of the plant during the night with only vague shadows scampering about and sabotaging the various systems and equipment is somewhat creepy, especially when you consider that someone could get seriously hurt from all of it. It's no wonder four other "vice-presidents" got the heck out of Dodge due to the constant troubles.
We also see both Elroy and Teddy-2 get hurt during the opening ceremony, so someone did get hurt...a couple kids. Given that the Grungies are actually pretty nice creatures when it comes down to it, this level of desperation to save their homes, even if it meant someone ELSE got hurt instead, is pretty terrifying.
Overshadowed by Controversy: Ask anyone what they remember about this movie, and almost everyone will only mention the incident of Judy's voice being redubbed.
Retroactive Recognition: Patric Zimmerman was at the very beginning of his voice acting career when his then-wife, casting director Kris Zimmerman, recommended him as a replacement for the late Daws Butler as Elroy. At the end of the 1990s, Zimmerman took on the role for which he is most well-known today, Metal Gear Solid villain Revolver Ocelot.
Unintentionally Unsympathetic: Judy. She acts very obnoxious and whiny throughout the whole film and spends most of her screen time pining for some rock star she barely even knew for one minute. Yet, the movie acts as if they’ve been dating forever.
Unintentional Period Piece: Most of the soundtrack is by Tiffany (who infamously is also the voice of Judy) who was no longer popular by the time the film was released, and the movie is basically the 1960s future with 80s music and hairstyles, giving a weird combination.
They Wasted a Perfectly Good Plot: Most of the character arcs don’t go anywhere and no actual conflict happens until the third act when the protagonists meet the Grungies.
" video, calling it an '80s MTV music video on crack.