Release Date: April 28, 2006
MPAA Rating: PG for some language
Written and Directed by: Doug Atchison
Starring: Keke Palmer, Angela Bassett, Laurence Fishburne, Jeff Marlow, Sara Niemietz, Eddie Steeples
Plot:
A precocious eleven-year-old girl, Akeelah Anderson, from south Los Angeles, is discovered to have a talent for words. In spite of the objections of her mother Wanda, Akeelah enters a spelling contest. Her gift takes her to compete in the National Spelling Bee, the most famous competition of its kind in the world. On the way, she is helped by a forthright, mysterious teacher, Dr. Larabee, and other members of her community.
Review:
Inspirational stories usually follow the same formula and it can become tiresome. Akeelah and the Bee stumbles with this problem at times, but for the most part it breaks through it and makes it its own. The best part of this film is a surprisingly superb performance by twelve year old Keke Palmer who plays Akeelah. She has a passion for words and is easily the smartest in her class. With a spelling Bee contest just around the corner, the teachers and principal at her school encourage her to tryout. Akeelah is an African American twelve year old girl who lives in a neighborhood where many are struggling to live.
Akeelah lives with her mother Tanya who is played by Angela Bassett. Living with no father in her life Akeelah begins to motivate herself because of the past adventures they both had together. Her father was big on words and always helped her study hard. This film features flashbacks and focuses mainly on Akeelahs studying. This is something we have all heard before and seen, but Akeelah and the Bee is heartwarming, smart and well crafted. This film may be all of these things, but it does have its sets of flaws.
For one thing, when a film has a simple plot much like this one, it needs to offer more. Akeelah and the Bee succeeds in that because it offers emotional points involving family. We also go through failure and success much like a lot of reality. Helping Akeelah become a success is Laurence Fishburne who plays Dr. Larabee and he coaches Akeelah to become better than she already is. From the many kids at Akeelahs school, not only was she the top student, but she surpasses all of them by a long shot.
As an inspirational film, Akeelah and the Bee does a much better job than Take the Lead. What we get here are situations that are more realistic of struggles and redemption. Written and Directed by Doug Atchison, he captures the characters emotions and makes it effective towards the viewer. The direction with this film works because one can become attached and emotionally involved with Akeelah. Apart from that, one who enjoys vocabulary to an extreme will probably even enjoy this film more.
Akeelah and the Bee demonstrates that there is no need for stereotyping and what matters is what within oneself. Well, these are subjects everyone should know, so its nothing new. With that said, the messages are clear about love and how painful pasts must be look as something to move yourself further along. When this film becomes flawed, its merely when some of the other child actors open their mouths. Also, at eleven to fourteen years of age, one has matured enough to be ignorant and childlike. None of the child actors even come close to what Keke Palmer does for this film.
There is nothing in Akeelah and the Bee that breaks new grounds in these type of stories, but its enjoyable and well done while it lasts. There weren't too many moments that made me cringe because it quickly knows what to do and intersect Larabee's and Akeelahs life. Its a surprisingly well executed performance by Palmer and she might be giving Dakota Fanning a challenge as the best child actor. Akeelah and the Bee has an unpredictable ending and that is a smart move. Although, the result is questionable because children usually have egos and want to beat the others no matter what. Even with some flaws, this film is well made and has a great message.
