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Plot Summary
Akeelah Anderson (Keke Palmer), from south Los Angeles, has a talent for words. In spite of the objections of her mother Wanda (Angela Bassett), Keke enters a spelling contest. Her gift takes her to compete in the National Spelling Bee, the most famous competition of its kind in the world. On the way, she is helped by a forthright, mysterious teacher, Dr. Larabee (Laurence Fishburne) and a cast of colorful characters from the community.
Credits
Director
Screenwriter
Rotten Tomatoes Movie Reviews
TOMATOMETER
84%- Reviews Counted: 136
- Fresh: 114
- Rotten: 22
- Average Rating: 7.0/10
Top Critics' Reviews
Fresh: ... an underdog tale that manages to inspire without being sappy.
Fresh: ... it's easy to overlook that contrivance, because the movie's heart is so clearly in the right place.
Fresh: It's the kind of movie parents will want their kids to see as opposed to much of what's playing at the multiplex.
Rotten: Akeelah and the Bee is so warm and well-meaning that you may find yourself wanting to like it more than you really do.
Customer Reviews
the warming in heartwarming.
I wasnt too thrilled to hear that I was going to watch this movie with some of my friends...but I decided to tag along anyway and just bit my lip. Throughout the movie, though, I was actually relaxing my lip with the jaw dropping suspence (you would be suprised!) and the heartwarming moments that make my lips mouth "aw!" and what not. I think this is a movie where you could learn more then just about how to win national's. I think everyone should watch this film.
Great teaching tool
I show this to my 7th graders each year to get them pumped for our school bee. This film makes having an educated vocabulary cool.
WONDERFUL!!!
This movie is a beautiful lesson . A must see for the whole family.
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![Akeelah and the Bee](https://s.mzstatic.com/htmlResources/F3F8/frameworks/images/p.png)
- $11.99
- Genre: Drama
- Released: 2006
- © 2006 Lions Gate Films, Inc. and 2929 Productions LLC. All Rights Reserved. Academy Award (R) is the registered trademark and service mark of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
Also Available
- Akeelah and the Bee (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
- Various Artists