![]() The movie depends on her, and she deserves its trust. It puts her in Dakota Fanning and Flora Cross territory, and there's something about her poise and self-possession that hints she will grow up to be a considerable actress. Keke Palmer, a young Chicago actress whose first role was as Queen Latifah's niece in "Barbershop 2," becomes an important young star with this movie. Akeelah practices in secret, and after she wins a few bees even the tough kids in the neighborhood start cheering for her. Tanya Anderson ( Angela Bassett) has issues after the death of her husband, and values Akeelah's homework above all else, including silly afterschool activities like spelling bees. And for Fishburne, it's a reminder of his work in " Searching for Bobby Fischer" (1993), another movie where he coached a prodigy.Īkeelah is mocked not only at school. Coaching her is a way out of his own shell. Joshua Larabee ( Laurence Fishburne), on a leave of absence after the death of his daughter. Her real chance at national success comes after a reluctant English professor agrees to act as her coach. ![]() The story of Akeelah's ascent to the finals of the National Spelling Bee makes an uncommonly good movie, entertaining and actually inspirational, and with a few tears along the way. No, she doesn't have a photographic memory, nor is she channeling the occult as the heroine of " Bee Season" does. Beating time with her hand against her thigh as sort of a metronome, she cranks out the letters and arrives triumphantly at the words. It soon becomes apparent that if Akeelah has any intention of entering the national spelling bee championships in Washington, D.C., she will not do so with Tanya's permission or blessing.The thing with Akeelah ( Keke Palmer) is that she can spell, whether she wants to or not. Meanwhile, Tanya feels intimidated when she finds the contests are dominated by children from wealthy families and privileged backgrounds, and argues that the competition may not be in Akeelah's best interest, believing instead that homework should be the one and only priority in Akeelah's life. A college professor who was a spelling-bee champ as a child, Larabee is a stubborn taskmaster who questions Akeelah's ability and commitment, but in time he develops a respect for his pupil and helps her prove her talent as she climbs the ladder to the National Spelling Bee. Larabee (Laurence Fishburne), who consents to act as her coach. However, Akeelah's teacher sees genuine potential in her student and encourages her to enter the school's spelling bee, convinced Akeelah has the brains and the talent to win.Īkeelah applies herself and emerges victorious in the local competition, but discovers the going gets tougher when she goes to a statewide bee, studying for the regionals under the aegis of strict English teacher Dr. 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. A young girl learns to believe in herself and value her intelligence in this critically-acclaimed, family-friendly drama.Īkeelah 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.
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