DISNEY'S THE KID (pg) ***

APART from the word "Disney's" in the title, you know what kind of ground you're on as soon as you see Bruce Willis with something other than a grade two shaved head.

The Brooster's cheesy grin and sparkling eyes get a full run out in this vaguely pleasing feel-good tale about a workaholic image consultant who learns to live again with a little help from his young self.

Russ Duritz earns megabucks by making business folk and sports stars appear to be someone more palatable than they really are.

He treats his body like a temple, has no time for frivolity and thinks twice before showing a fellow human being a little warmth - unless there's something in it for him.

His closest employee Amy (British newcomer Emily Mortimer) tries in vain to coax a little humanity out of him, while his PA Janet (Lily Tomlin) meets his frostiness with a subtle blend of sarcasm and brutal efficiency.

Then Russ' life is turned upside down by the magical appearance of Rusty (Spencer Breslin), an eight-year-old version of himself. Rusty is pretty cheesed off with being eight and is none too happy either with how he turns out at 40 - not least because he doesn't fly a jet, hasn't got a dog called Chester and isn't married.

Russ, on the other hand, can't stand to be reminded of when he was a chubby cry-baby loser, the daily victim of bullies.

Together they work out a whole mess of stuff about standing up for yourself, working hard, eating junk food, why the moon turns red and making room for a real life outside of work.

They also get to see a few mutual dreams come true.

Disney's The Kid offers a relatively new take on a familiar story - adults would be much better if they allowed the child inside to surface more often - and director Jon Turteltaub keeps the story flowing, signposting developments with unhurried subtlety. Meanwhile, Willis and Breslin create the necessary bond to make you care.

All of which makes for a pleasant, uncomplicated hour and a half.