Akeelah and the Bee Review

Akeelah is an 11 year old student at Crenshaw Middle School in Crenshaw, California.  She has never missed one single word on her spelling tests, without studying.  She's not doing so great in her other classes, she skips a bit and doesn't apply herself.  She just loves words.  She spends her free time playing Scrabble online.

When Akeelah is approached by her Principal to participate in the school spelling bee, she resisted.  She was afraid of people looking at her and making fun of her.  She had no confidence in herself.

After Akeelah won Crenshaw Middle School's Spelling Bee she advanced to the Los Angeles School District Spelling Bee where she placed in the top 10.  From there she advanced to Southern California Regional Finals in which she placed 3rd.  This allowed her to be entered into the infamous Scripps National Spelling Bee.

Akeelah's Coach, Dr. Larabee was a grieving Professor from UCLA on sabbatical. As a favor to his friend, Crenshaw's Principal, he agreed to coach Akeelah for the Spelling Bee.  At one point, Dr. Larabee takes some time off from coaching Akeelah.  He was dealing with his own demons and didn't think he could take her any further.  Akeelah turned to her community for help.  Her Mother, siblings, friends, even the local gangsters helped Akeelah study her words.  When Akeelah didn't think she could do it any further without him, she went back to Dr. Larabee and after a heart-to-heart (and a couple of secrets unveiled), he agreed to once again coach Akeelah.  Together they can't lose!

 Akeelah and The Bee is truly an inspiring, uplighting movie that the whole family will enjoy.  I found myself smiling, laughing and thorougly enjoying this movie.

Actors/Actresses: Angela Bassett, Laurence Fishburne, Keke Palmer
Rated: PG
2006

2 thumbs up!