Akeelah and the Bee is a gem of a movie for middle-school and late-elementary school children. Eleven-year-old Akeelah lives with her overworked mother in South Central LA and mourns the death of her father. Her two older brothers have their own paths, one in the Air Force and the other hanging with gangbangers. Akeelah struggles in school because she clearly has other things on her mind. We see her playing Scrabble on her computer, though, so we know she’s smart. When her principal cajoles her into entering the school spelling bee, she is reluctant at first, fearful of being teased as a “brainiac.” This being the movies, however, she enters and wins. Her principal introduces you to with Dr. Larabee, a former academic struggling with the death of his own daughter, and encourages her to train with Larabee for the Scripps National Spelling Bee. In the process she discovers much about words, race, culture, friendship, and her self.
There is much that is formulaic about the movie. A heroine in dire straits finds a teacher with whom she does not get along at first. Eventually, his clever methods get through to her and she prepares herself for the big contest against more privileged opponents. What saves this movie from falling into the dustbin of clichéd cinema, however, are the winning performances from a stellar cast. Laurence Fishburne brings his usual presence to Dr. Larabee (in addition to being one of the film’s producers). Angela Bassett is thoroughly convincing as Akeelah’s care-worn mother. More surprising is eleven-year-old Keke Palmer as Akeelah, who plays the ups and downs of the character with a skill not often seen in more experienced actors. She’s been nominated for a Best Actress Black Movie Award for her performance. (Bassett and Fishburne garnered Best Supporting nominations.)
This is an uplifting and inspiring story for children. Adults may recognize the formula, but should be swept along by the acting and the earnestness of the tale. Buy or rent it if you can.