WALT Disney got the idea for “Tomorrowland” in the 1950s. Now it’s in Disney theme parks around the world.

Brad Bird’s film embodies classic Disney fantasies and visual styles that have carved a permanent place in popular culture. It cost a reported $US190 million and, after opening there on 22 May, took nearly $US48 million  in its first week.

Kids still of single-digit age mightn’t grasp some elements of its plot, core ideas and conflict. No matter. They’ll take childish joy from its Disney ambience although 130 minutes running time may outweigh their attention span.

But more than merely entertainment, “Tomorrowland” is a message movie. I’d like to think it might just have enough clout to get that message through to the decision makers, the law givers and the climate change sceptics who persevere with it until Frank (George Clooney), 16-year-old Casey (Britt Robertson) and Athena (Raffey Cassidy) confront Nix (Hugh Laurie) at the end of a long journey that culminates in a rocket launched from beneath the Eiffel Tower.

We first meet Nix early into the film, a figure of mystery, about whom we’re never quite sure whether he’s a goodie or a baddie. Nix reveals his true colours as the end approaches. Here “end” denotes two events – the film and mankind’s custodianship of our planet.

After Nix’s polemic outlining human-kind’s responsibilities as guardians of our planet, the travellers return to our time where they distribute among the coming generation special pins like those that Athena gave Frank and Casey to identify them as scientifically-smart humans deserving protection and recognition. Science underpins the film although I have my doubts about some of it. For my money, its most engaging character is Athena, a pretty child who doesn’t age in the normal human way. “Tomorrowland” is Raffey Cassidy’s third film and provided fame and wealth don’t mar her innocence, she looks likely to have a career for as long as she wants.

At Palace Electric