Akeelah and the Bee
reviewed by Jane Louise Boursaw
| Suggested Ages: |
MPAA Rating: |
Star Rating: |
| 8+ |
PG |
**** |
“You know that feeling when, no matter what you do or where you go, you just don’t fit in?” These are the words of Akeelah Anderson (Keke Palmer), an 11-year-old girl from South Los Angeles. But maybe there is a place where Akeelah fits in. When it’s discovered that she has a gift for spelling, she enters her first spelling bee, against the wishes of her mother, Tanya (Angela Bassett). Her talent takes her all the way to the National Spelling Bee, the most famous -- and fierce -- competition of its kind in the world. But Akeelah will be going up against “rich white kids,” and being able to spell is just half the battle.
Along the way, she’s coached by an intense, mysterious teacher, Dr. Joshua Larabee (Laurence Fishburne) -- a former spelling champ himself -- her principal, Mr. Welch (Curtis Armstrong - remember Herbert Viola in “Moonlighting”?), and a cast of colorful characters from the community.
Never has watching someone spell words been so exciting! Akeelah’s journey not only helps her conquer her fears, it also brings new life to a neighborhood in need of some hope. This is a wonderful production with great acting, an edge-of-your-seat storyline, and a soulful musical score with tunes by Aretha Franklin, Al Green, The Spinners, and Curtis Mayfield.
PRE-SCHOOLER (ages 2-5):
While spelling is a good thing for little ones to grasp early on, the racial and social themes in this movie are too intense for preschoolers. Better to set them up with preschool-friendly educational shows like “Sesame Street” and “Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood.”
GRADE-SCHOOLER (ages 6-10):
This is a thoughtful movie that shows grade-schoolers just what they can accomplish, even when the odds are stacked squarely against them. Akeelah overcomes both the social and racial pressures of her environment, as well as her own insecurities. It’s a good example of how one person really can make a difference and inspire people to go for their dreams.
TWEEN/TEEN (ages 11+):
We all know the adults in this movie -- Angela Bassett, Lawrence Fishburne, Curtis Armstrong -- have some acting chops, but little Keke Palmer is the one who really rocks the house with her performance. She has the ability to make you believe she is this character, not just an actor playing a role. This movie is a great reminder to tweens and teens that good really does happen in the world -- despite all the bad news we’re deluged with every day. This is definitely a “goosebumps” movie, and a real treat for word geeks, too!
Jane Louise Boursaw is a freelance writer specializing in the television and movie industry. Her syndicated column, "Reel Life With Jane," is published in papers throughout the country. Email her at jboursaw@charter.net.
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