Desktop Site16 February 2010
Disney/Pixar proves Brits" thirst for adventure grows with age to mark the Blu-ray and DVD release of UP
Life really does begin at 40 - at least a life of adventure does, according to new research released today.
The study shows Brits are richer, fitter and have more time on their hands than ever before as they approach the big 4-0.
So much so that Brits are most likely to take up extreme sports at 38, run a marathon at 39, climb a mountain at 41 and travel the world at 44. And if anyone is lucky enough to travel to space then they are most likely to do it in their late 50s.
The research marks the Blu-ray and DVD release of Disney/Pixar"s Up on Monday 15 February. Up is the touching, Oscar-nominated tale of 78 year-old Carl Fredricksen who finally fulfills his lifelong dream of a great adventure when he ties thousands of balloons to his house and flies away to the wilds of South America.
A lust for life was found to be the biggest factor pushing Brits to be more adventurous, with a third (36%) saying an overabundance of health and safety messages made them want to live for the moment.
And, despite the UK only just recovering from the recession, money worries only deter two in five (39%) of us from embarking on an adventure.
Similarly, work and family commitments were found to only hold back the minority from realising their dreams. Just one in four (25%) said family ties would hold them back and only a fifth (19%) said work would curb their adventurous spirit.
The findings also show that the spirit of adventure doesn"t diminish over time. A third (28%) of Britain"s OAPs say they feel more adventurous with every year that passes - and Brits in their 60s feel just as adventurous as they did when they were children.
When asked what the greatest adventure in life was, a sentimental majority of Brits said it was having kids. One in three (34%) said starting a family would be the best adventure in life, beating travelling to exotic places around the world (25%), finding the love of their life (14%) and carrying out a magnificent feat such as climbing Everest (5%).
The study also found Brits to be an optimistic bunch, with one in two (48%) confident of fulfilling their dreams.
Up - a comedy about never being too old to enjoy life"s great adventures - is available to own on Monday 15 February, ahead of the BAFTAs on Sunday 21 February where it has been nominated for four awards including Original Screenplay, Animated Film, Music and Sound.
A Disney spokesperson said: "It"s wonderful to hear that the spirit of adventure is alive and well in the UK.
"As Up proves, it"s never too late to fulfill your lifelong dreams, whatever they might be. Hopefully the movie will win over anybody who might take a little bit of convincing!"
The UK"s top 10 "mini adventures":
1. Going out for the day on a whim
2. Having an unexpected night out
3. Spontaneously buying something after wanting it for a while
4. Bumping into old friends
5. Extreme sports
6. Playing with the kids
7. Cooking something new for dinner
8. Discovering a new bar or restaurant
9. Getting lost in a new city
10. Climbing a tree
Up is out on DVD now.