SOMEONE once said that youth is wasted on the young, which is a great description of Disney s new animated film. Nominally a kids film, it should have all who see it thoroughly captivated – whether young, old, or somewhere in between. It s an unlikely

SOMEONE once said that youth is wasted on the young, which is a great description of Disney's new animated film.

Nominally a kids' film, it should have all who see it thoroughly captivated - whether young, old, or somewhere in between.

It's an unlikely tale of the oddest of odd couples, a boy of eight and a man of 78, and their adventure in a far-off place.

The film starts with the story of a shy, young child, Carl Fredricksen, whom we follow as he grows up.

As a young man, he falls in love with Ellie, his polar opposite with an adventurous and high-spirited character.

They marry and both cherish a dream to visit Paradise Falls - somewhere in south America - but never do so.

This part of the film includes a 10-minute sequence that had and probably will have many people in tears with its poignancy.

Fredricksen, now widowed (voiced by Ed Asner), finds himself in the last house in the middle of a major building development.

When he is threatened with eviction, he decides to attach thousands of balloons and make the long-delayed trip to Paradise Falls.

While airborne and unbeknown to himself, he finds that eager Wilderness Scout Russell (voiced by Jordan Nagai) has accidentally joined him as the house floats towards south America.

Once at Paradise Falls, their adventures involve a wonderful bird and dog called Dug, who can speak through the aid of a vocal gizmo on his collar.

The duo's relationship is both funny and touching - Russell all keen as mustard, Carl grouchy and cantankerous.

This is Pixar's 10th film for Disney and, just like their previous work, the insistence on a good story means it is not simply another well-made children's movie.

Added to that are impressive visuals, which make this a real winner, almost certainly a classic of the future and one of the best films of the year so far.

This is film-making at its best - if only more adult pictures were as good...

EMERSON FORDE