Akeelah and the Bee (2006)
Average Rating: 7/10
Reviews Counted: 135
Fresh: 113 | 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: 31
Fresh: 25 | 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: 83,505
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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 Bee H... -
Sid Ganis
Regional Pronouncer -
Krysten Leigh Jones
Tough Girl #1 -
Todd Wagner
Regional Bee Assistant ... -
Lauren Sanchez
Reporter -
Bonita Friedericy
Volunteer -
Zachary Gardner
Regional Speller #3 -
Eddie Steeples
Derrick-T -
Sara Niemietz
Polly -
George Hornedo
Roman -
Katie Kerwin McCrimmon
Katie Kerwin McCrimmon -
Jacques Bailly
National Spelling Bee P... -
Amirah Hawkins
Tough Girl #2 -
Jeff Marlow
District Judge -
Chloé Conroy
District Pronouncer -
Austin Herrera Davis
Cheating Boy -
Janet Borrus
Cheating Boy's Mom -
Marcus Hawkins Dungey
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 Curran
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" Speller -
Jessy J. Hwang
"Ginglymus" Speller -
Biplab Panda
"Empennage" Speller -
Alexander Christian Steph...
"Souchong" Speller -
Katie L. Brown
"Intussusception" Spell... -
John Oxenreiter
"Engastrimythic" Spelle... -
Katie Olson
"Escharotic" Speller -
Jason Ortenberg
"Flocculation" Speller -
Lance Norling
Boy In Wheelchair -
Jmeka Cherrel
Driver -
Kahlil Ashanti
Postman
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All Critics (137) | Top Critics (31) | Fresh (116) | Rotten (23) | DVD (8)
Its clichés seem bigger and its characterisations broader than they would on the more forgiving telly.
Top Critic... 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.
Inspiring drama about a champion speller.
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.
Without ever hitting a false note, and pausing for a few lighter moments along the way, this touching tale shares a bounty of uplifting messages while taking you on an emotional roller coaster ride guaranteed to leave you wiping away the tears.
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 clichéd 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.
Audience Reviews for Akeelah and the Bee
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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.