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Akeelah and the Bee Reviews
A good film showcasing determination to get to the top
A Classic Sports Drama. The acting is excellent from Palmer, Bassett, and Fishburne who give powerhouse performances. The supporting cast is really good and everything else is really well done. It never really feels over the top or melodramatic when it deals with the obsticles Akeelah has to over come which is a testament to how well it's made. The situations she was thrown into like her Mom taking her off stage never felt hammed in but very real. Really the only issues are it is very much by the numbers for a sports drama and you can kind of see the whole thing coming. I do find it a bit cliche to have her and Dylan at the very end going the whole distance but it's so well done and you love the characters so much it doesn't really matter. If Dylan was more symbolic rather than your stereotypical villian that would've proably pushed this into all time great sports movies. Anyone who is a fan of the director, any actors in this, sports movies, dramas, feel good films, or wants to get psyched to spell should check this out. O-U-T...OUT! :)
i like it . must see if you have a spelling bee
I missed it in theaters. Yet this was Keke Palmer's rise to stardom. Your brain has to be smarter than your body, you can't grow if you're a shrinking violet, our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure not being inadequate, we have more than one coach in life to help us along that way, words come from all around us, smaller ones can create bigger ones, love is the feeling where we feel safe and nothing else scares us Keke Palmer's performance is a delight. Laurence Fishburne is great as her spelling coach and Angela Bassett does wonders as her concerned mother. Spelling is hard but learning to spell out everything in your own as a kid in life is just as hard. Even if we have a strong vocabulary we have to exercise everything else at our disposal. Others laugh at our ability but the true concern is how far we can make it on our own. A terrific family flick with a stunning performance by a rising child actress.
Very well done movie and great for the family
Way overated. This is a well-meaning film, but it's about as stunning as your average After-School Special. Too formulaic. The performances are earnest; but the plot is completely and totally predictable, and the characters never really rise above tv-movie 2 dimensionality; they're just props for this umpteenth variation on Cinderella to play out on. You'd be better off watching the similarly themed Hoop Dreams, Spellbound, Searching For Bobby Fisher, or even A Boy Named Charlie Brown, another coming-of-age story which pivots on an outcast redeeming himself with a town spelling bee. Or, if you want to watch a really stunning coming-of-age story about a young black girl growing up in America try the classic 1997 gothic Eve's Bayou. Those movies are all special, this one's just ordinary.
This is a decent and family friendly (for the most part) film - I suppose its a drama, although its not especially dramatic, its more insightful. There are some cliches present but I didn't feel it was entirely preachy or anything. I suppose perhaps a fair term to use in relation to the social commentary aspect of this film (or maybe instead of term I should say word - which is particularly relevant given the theme - this is a film about words! and I don't mean word as in respect(!)) would be wholesome. It felt fairly contemporary and has some decent performances. I could understand the main characters anxiety and concern relating to the pressure felt from others in terms of their hopes for her achievement. I've been aware of spelling bee contests for a few years and I like to think my spelling is ok - not amazing but certainly not awful, so I was slightly interested in the whole concept of this 'industry', if I may call it that, as it were etc. This is pretty clearly a film, a slightly Disney-ish (although its live action) one but not one that seemed completely artificial. I thought that Laurence Fishbourne gave a good performance as a Unviersity Professor turned Spelling Bee tutor. I kept thinking that this is the guy who was in The Matrix - its not quite so high drama, his role in this but its a good performance never the less. Have no doubt about it, there's cheese here but its not a bad film. I would recommend it as a mostly family friendly and somewhat intriguing watch, yes.
You can't believe in a dream unless you believe in yourself. This is Keke Palmer's rise to stardom. Akeelah Anderson is 11 years old and goes to Crenshaw Middle School in South Los Angeles. Turns out she has an incredible knack for spelling. Her mother though played by Angela Bassett is highly opposed to it. She just wants her to focus on getting a good education. A mysterious teacher named Dr. Joshua Larabee shows her how she can make it to the top. Akeelah's dad had a passion for spelling so this might do something for her. This competition chews up contestants and spits them out. The pressure can be a toll even with someone her age. But can she make it to the Scripps National Spelling Bee? Your brain has to be smarter than your body, you can't grow if you're a shrinking violet, our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure not being inadequate, we have more than one coach in life to help us along that way, words come from all around us, smaller ones can create bigger ones, love is the feeling where we feel safe and nothing else scares us Keke Palmer's performance is a delight. Laurence Fishburne is great as her spelling coach and Angela Bassett does wonders as her concerned mother. Spelling is hard but learning to spell out everything in your own as a kid in life is just as hard. Even if we have a strong vocabulary we have to exercise everything else at our disposal. Others laugh at our ability but the true concern is how far we can make it on our own. A terrific family flick with a stunning performance by a rising child actress and palpable suspense.
I hadn't seen this since it first came out. I enjoyed watching it with my children. Great family movie!
It's watchable and well made but a spelling competition is simply not that interesting and there are no surprises throughout.
Even though I still like the film, There are still more movies in my opinion that are better than this film still a great film just not perfect.
Seen over 10 years ago, but very memorable. A standout performance by keke Palmer, a storyline that's satisfying yet realistic, and an classic underdog story with its own messages.
I really enjoyed this story of a young girl's quest to compete at the National Spelling Bee and the community that supported her in her efforts. Excellent performances by Angela Bassett, Laurence Fishburne, and Keke Palmer.
A great family film. Definitely an unexpected ending with some good performances.
Akeelah and the Bee is a movie about how a young black girl overcomes her circumstances of racism to win a spelling Bee over white people in a competition that is always won by Asians and Indians. It's an eye roll of cringyness and I can't believe Lawrence Fishburn lowered himself to be in it.
Akeela and the Bee is a profound, thought provoking film that is definitely impressive. With an inspiring story, great acting and terrific writing, Akeela and the Bee is sure to knock your socks clean off.
A girl discovers her gift for spelling and competes in the national bee. It's a little sappy and cliched, but I liked it. It's a winner! (First and only viewing - 5/25/2017)