Akeelah and the Bee (2006)
Average Rating: 7/10
Reviews Counted: 136
Fresh: 114 | Rotten: 22
Although predictable in every way, a winning performance from its young star Keke Palmer and the rest of the cast makes it difficult not to cheer for the little heroine of Akeelah and the Bee. Sort of like Rocky for the middle school nerd set, Akeelah is a warm, family-friendly underdog story, featuring terrific supporting performances from Laurence Fishburne and Angela Bassett.
Average Rating: 6.9/10
Critic Reviews: 32
Fresh: 26 | Rotten: 6
Although predictable in every way, a winning performance from its young star Keke Palmer and the rest of the cast makes it difficult not to cheer for the little heroine of Akeelah and the Bee. Sort of like Rocky for the middle school nerd set, Akeelah is a warm, family-friendly underdog story, featuring terrific supporting performances from Laurence Fishburne and Angela Bassett.
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Average Rating: 3.6/5
User Ratings: 83,963
Movie Info
A young girl learns to believe in herself and value her intelligence in this critically-acclaimed, family-friendly drama. Akeelah Anderson (Keke Palmer) is an 11-year-old being raised by her mother, Tanya (Angela Bassett), who was left on her own after the death of her husband. While Akeelah is a very bright girl, she's hardly a star student and seems afraid of acting like a bookworm around her friends and classmates. However, Akeelah's teacher sees genuine potential in her student and
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Cast
-
Laurence Fishburne
Dr. Larabee -
Angela Bassett
Tanya -
Keke Palmer
Akeelah Anderson -
Curtis Armstrong
Mr. Welch -
Tzi Ma
Mr. Chiu -
Lee Thompson Young
Devon -
J.R. Villareal
Javier -
Sahara Garey
Georgia -
Sean Michael Afable
Dylan -
Erica Hubbard
Kiana -
Julito McCullum
Terrence -
Dalia Phillips
Ms. Cross -
Wolfgang Bodison
Akeelah's Father -
Craig Wasson
Ted Saunders -
Lee Garlington
Regional Judge -
Fay Hauser
Woman On Tv -
Jack Ong
Korean Grocer -
Jeris Poindexter
Steve -
Marjorie Harris
National Spelling Be... -
Sid Ganis
Regional Pronouncer -
Krysten Leigh Jones
Tough Girl #1 -
Todd Wagner
Regional Bee Assista... -
Lauren Sanchez
Reporter -
Bonita Friedericy
Volunteer -
Zachary Gardner
Regional Speller #3 -
Eddie Steeples
Derrick-T -
Sara Niemietz
Polly -
George Hornedo
Roman -
Katie Kerwin McCrimm...
Katie Kerwin McCrimm... -
Jacques Bailly
National Spelling Be... -
Amirah Hawkins
Tough Girl #2 -
Jeff Marlow
District Judge -
Chlo� Conroy
District Pronouncer -
Austin Herrera Davis
Cheating Boy -
Janet Borrus
Cheating Boy's Mom -
Marcus Hawkins Dunge...
Chuckie -
Caroline J. Smith
Mary Calveretti -
Neil Soni
Rajeev Subramonian -
Keshell Lucas
Little Girl On TV -
Corina Boettger
Red-Haired Girl -
Shyann Chatman
Eighth-Grade Girl -
Brittany Elizabeth C...
District Speller #1 -
Alexandra Rieger
District Speller #2 -
Eric Don
Regional Speller #1 -
Julia Kelleher
Regional Speller #2 -
John A. Ausick
"Sacciform" Speller -
Maddy Kloss
"Scutellate" Speller -
Lynda Mason Green
"Longicollis" Spelle... -
Jessy J. Hwang
"Ginglymus" Speller -
Biplab Panda
"Empennage" Speller -
Alexander Christian ...
"Souchong" Speller -
Katie L. Brown
"Intussusception" Sp... -
John Oxenreiter
"Engastrimythic" Spe... -
Katie Olson
"Escharotic" Speller -
Jason Ortenberg
"Flocculation" Spell... -
Lance Norling
Boy In Wheelchair -
Jmeka Cherrel
Driver -
Kahlil Ashanti
Postman
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All Critics (138) | Top Critics (32) | Fresh (114) | Rotten (22) | DVD (8)
Its clich�s seem bigger and its characterisations broader than they would on the more forgiving telly.
... it's easy to overlook that contrivance, because the movie's heart is so clearly in the right place.
The latest spelling bee movie is a Starbucks Entertainment product, and it has a made-to-order feel about it, kind of like a compilation album.
Keke Palmer, who's been working in television and movies for the past few years, is a natural on screen.
It's the kind of movie parents will want their kids to see as opposed to much of what's playing at the multiplex.
... a delight to sit through ...
It isn't just about the competition. It is about heart, dedication, intelligence and the pulling together of a entire community.
Akeelah and the Bee is the kind of movie you want to recommend to every 11-year-old you know.
The best thing ... is that, unlike the majority of sports films, the film doesn't suggest that spelling has some kind of transcendental importance.
It's hard to believe the best family film so far this year comes from a writer-director whose previous film bears the unfortunate title The Pornographer.
Fine performances all around and smart pacing that rivets us to the story.
Any parents wondering why they don't make wholesome family flicks anymore can stop wondering.
This is a film that couldn't be more predictable or more joyful. I just hope I haven't misspelled anything.
...a sporadically engaging drama.
If there's ever any evidence that originality and predictability aren't necessarily absolute elements by which to judge a movie, Akeelah and the Bee is it.
It's every bit as clich�d and predictable as you'd expect, but thanks to some fine performances, especially from the young leads, it is quite watchable.
While there's a temptation to dismiss Akeelah and the Bee as Good Will Spelling, there aren't enough (good) heartwarming films like this for either younger or older audiences.
It's hard not to fall in love with the film
Give it an m, i, s, s.
The film has an important, uplifting message; shame it couldn't be encased in a less faked-up story.
The young star is such a little cutey-pie and the plot so cleverly manipulative that, whatever its faults, you'll still have a lump in your throat throughout.
There's charm in this simple underdog tale, but clunky plotting and characterisation mean it has 'telemovie' written all over it. You'd be better off renting Spellbound instead.
This isn't a patch on Spellbound ... but its strong performances and its skilful deployment of the finest, hand-picked cliches ensures that it remains enjoyable throughout.
As much a fantasy as Lord of the Rings.
However eager to entertain and even to model some ways of living life, the film doesn't wheedle us for our love or our devotion, and perhaps for that reason, it earns both.
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This is something different in topic but still uses a plot and story-structure that is very familiar, but otherwise it's still a worthy film to see.
Another "Rags to Riches" theme but with a very interesting topic which had my eyes glued because my interest was very stimulated,
"Akeelah and the Bee" is a great movie that squeezed hope out of me and made my experience a real journey. A decent choice for all.