Akeelah and the Bee (2006)

Featured Audience Ratings

• Jason L

  
  Almost every spelling bee movie ever made is cheesy and totally predictable. Akeelah and the Bee, though, is a very clever, well crafted, beautiful movie. It's young but talented cast are admirable, and will have you cheering them on all the way.

• EightThirty .

  
  31/07/2010 (TELEVISION) 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… More
  31/07/2010 (TELEVISION) 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 the 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.

• erika b

  
  This film was an eye opener to what its like for someone who wants to be in a spelling bee.

• E.J. B

  
  It follows a formulaic plot structure, but I really liked how it explored the cultural and social divisions amongst classes in Los Angeles.

• Drew S

  
  Akeelah and the Bee is predictable, but honest enough for you to not care. It's also an interesting study on the competition itself - as a former spelling bee brat, I can assure you that the elements you see like the overbearing Asian parents and the ceaseless studying are all… More
  Akeelah and the Bee is predictable, but honest enough for you to not care. It's also an interesting study on the competition itself - as a former spelling bee brat, I can assure you that the elements you see like the overbearing Asian parents and the ceaseless studying are all part of the rigmarole. As a straight-up competition movie, Akeelah and the Bee would have been dull as dirt, but it has enough unique elements to protect it from being completely generic. There's an interesting cultural emphasis, putting African-American children in a positive light (something you rarely see in Hollywood, sadly) and reinforcing the values of family and togetherness. It's not an instant classic, but it's a feel-good movie to be seen at least once.

• Dean M

  
  Absolutely emotional and heart-warming drama story of an 11-year-old girl hoping to represent her community at the National Spelling Bee. Laurence Fishburne makes fantastic performance as 11-year-old girl's coach.

• Jennifer X

  
  what a CUTE movie. i'm a sucker for all spelling bee movies, but this one takes the cake.

• Megan S

  
  Such a perfect "feel-good" movie. I think this movie is very underrated and underappreciated. Such a great story that sucks you in.

• Nate Z

  
  [center][img]http://img252.imageshack.us/img252/2344/photo09cb4.jpg[/img] [/center] [color=DarkRed][font=Arial]Lucky Number Slevin ? Probably too clever by half, this Tarantino knockoff is gloriously twisty and far more twisted than you may have thought from the surface.… More
  [center][img]http://img252.imageshack.us/img252/2344/photo09cb4.jpg[/img] [/center] [color=DarkRed][font=Arial]Lucky Number Slevin ? Probably too clever by half, this Tarantino knockoff is gloriously twisty and far more twisted than you may have thought from the surface. It?s a puzzle piece that winds up being vastly entertaining. Josh Hartnett does the best work of his career in an effervescent comedic performance, playing Slevin, a nobody mistaken for a somebody who owes different mobsters large sums of money. There are a lot of balls to keep juggling, but [i]Lucky Number Slevin[/i] finds a way to keep the headstrong momentum constantly going. The neo-noir art direction is fabulous and eye-catching. Things get really dark in the last act, perhaps too dark for some, but for me, this was a crime caper that left me captivated by clever storytelling and flashy camerawork. Definitely for fans of the noir genre and for those with hard stomachs for violence. Nate?s Grade: B Akeelah and the Bee ? It?s a familiar story and it may be predictable at every turn, but this movie shines when it comes to performances. Young Keke Parker plays the title super speller with equal parts fire, heartbreak, shyness, and pure glee. You easily fall in love with her and it makes her rise among the spelling ranks worth watching. Laurence Fishburne and Angela Bassett give stirring performances to compliment a strong cast. The new angle Akeelah has going for it is its urban education perspective, seeing Akeelah have to hide her smarts out of fear of her peers. The movie is fun, and Akeelah?s budding relationship with a fellow speller is cute as can be. [i]Akeelah and the Bee[/i] is a smartly written and uplifting family film with a lot of heart and a dash of schmaltz. Look for Booger as the inner city school principal that pins his hopes on Akeelah. Nate?s Grade: B+ Grandma?s Boy ? This Adam Sandler crony comedy came out within the first weeks of 2006. Many predicted it could very well remain one of the worst films of the year. Let me verify that belief. This is an incredibly lazy stoner sex comedy that can?t even get gratuitous nudity right. Its premise (video game tester moves in with three old women) never takes off, and much of the movie just feels like one giant drunken party. The story doesn?t even kick in until an hour in; you?re not [i]Brokeback Mountain[/i], [i]Grandma?s Boy[/i], you cannot afford to take your time and sit on your ass. This stuff just isn?t funny. You want to know how unfunny? A character thinks he?s in [i]The Matrix[/i]. Hi-larious and oh so timely. The movie trots out a nerd's dream girl (Linda Cardalini) for a rediculous romantic subplot that will just continue to give people who play Xbox 20 hours a day false hope. Sandler needs to stop bankrolling his buddies' tired pet projects (Do we really need more Rob Schneider movies?). This one is written by and stars Allen Covert and is directed by a guy whose only other credit to his name is, honestly, as an assistant to Covert on another movie. You can see how interested in quality Sandler and Covert are. This is rather insultingly unfunny for a raunchy sex comedy. It even plays it all too safe. There's strong potential for a grand gross-out comedy involving horny old women, but this isn't it. You mostly just feel sorry for the actors. This is a movie that doesn?t work on any level, except to keep Sandler?s buddies busy so they won?t crash on his couch. Nate?s Grade: D-[/font][/color]

• Rico Z

  
  A very uplifting movie about the power of self-belief. It was make you tear-up a bit-- but not because it's sad.

• Walter M

  
  [font=Century Gothic]In "Akeelah and the Bee", Akeelah Anderson(Keke Palmer) is a bright student and exceptional speller at Crenshaw Midle School in South Los Angeles but plays hooky often. The principal(Curtis Armstrong) makes her a deal - enroll in the school's… More
  [font=Century Gothic]In "Akeelah and the Bee", Akeelah Anderson(Keke Palmer) is a bright student and exceptional speller at Crenshaw Midle School in South Los Angeles but plays hooky often. The principal(Curtis Armstrong) makes her a deal - enroll in the school's spelling bee or enjoy detention. So, Akeelah chooses the spelling bee. Also as part of the deal, he promises the services of a tutor, Dr. Larabee(Laurence Fishburne), who used to teach at UCLA. The principal is confident that Akeelah can do well enough in the regional spelling bees to help the fortunes of her failing school...[/font] [font=Century Gothic][/font] [font=Century Gothic]...but that is only a temporary solutation for a problem that has long been festering.(It would be similar to a sports team's championship's fleeting effect on a city at large.) And that is the least of the problems of this very disappointing film. It is also shamelessly manipulative, predictable, cartoonish and even manages to waste the very fine talents of Laurence Fishburne and Angela Bassett.[/font] [font=Century Gothic][/font] [font=Century Gothic]The movie does have some good thoughts about broadening horizons but that should be included in any public education.(And, yes, 11-14 year olds being able to spell words that are only found in scientific journals is freakish.) Otherwise, there is nothing new here, whereas "Spellbound" was about the American dream and "Bee Season" was about the search for answers.[/font] [font=Century Gothic][/font] [font=Century Gothic]But, at least, "Akeelah and the Bee" does prove that you can navigate Los Angeles by bus.[/font] [font=Century Gothic][/font]

• Mike N

  
  It has thousands of tiny thrusting fists in it. Your palate is no match.

• Jeff B

  
  If moviegoers knew a car wreck was going to happen, would you show up? What if it was a really pretty car wreck with pigtails that, in some embarrassing way, made them feel all toasty inside? As Hallmark cards go, Akeelah and the Bee is a refreshing Pic-Me-Up from the endless rows of… More
  If moviegoers knew a car wreck was going to happen, would you show up? What if it was a really pretty car wreck with pigtails that, in some embarrassing way, made them feel all toasty inside? As Hallmark cards go, Akeelah and the Bee is a refreshing Pic-Me-Up from the endless rows of schlock. And make no mistake about it: Although far from perfect, Akeelah is no car wreck. Rather, it's a spoonful of sugar about a little girl in a national spelling bee meant to make the medicine of her cynical urban reality go down...albeit in a most delightful way. In this PG-rated family drama, a young inner city girl (Palmer) finds her forte in entering spelling championships--all under the tutelage of a linguistics professor (Fishburne). What sets message movies apart as average and above average is always a wholly unique seminal scene that surprises and yet drives home the meaning of the movie without being preachy. Akeelah's moment comes at the end, spelling out with many voices a message that made this born-again pessimist take notice. Bottom line: Bee delighted.

• Dannielle A

  
  Precious movie. One of the BEST that I've seen in a very long time.

• Juan C

  
  G-R-E-A-T, great! totally original, dramatic, and acts like a real movie. this is a smart and a real charmer of a family movie! easily one of the best films of 06. A+

• Deb S

  
  A very heartfelt film with an excellent performance by Lawrence Fishburne whilst Keke Palmer was very watchable as young Akeelah, who pursues her dream of competing in the national Spelling Bee! It was funny, heartbreaking and uplifting.

• William G

  
  Opts to coast by on sheer gumption and an eternally optimistic spirit that is all too familiar.

• Andrew F

  
  I was a little disappointed. I kept hearing how great it was, but I found it a little cliche. It was definately a good movie, but it could have been a little more original. The spelling bees were really interesting and will keep you captivated. Expect big things from Keke Palmer,… More
  I was a little disappointed. I kept hearing how great it was, but I found it a little cliche. It was definately a good movie, but it could have been a little more original. The spelling bees were really interesting and will keep you captivated. Expect big things from Keke Palmer, AKA Akeelah.

• Brian R

  
  I just love this movie. It is intelligent, vibrant, inspirational, captivating, and most of all moving. I would seriously recommend this picture to anyone especially to those who is just self obsessed watching action pictures. "Akeelah And The Bee" isn't just about a… More
  I just love this movie. It is intelligent, vibrant, inspirational, captivating, and most of all moving. I would seriously recommend this picture to anyone especially to those who is just self obsessed watching action pictures. "Akeelah And The Bee" isn't just about a famous self obesessed spelling competition, the film digs deeper into the lives of Akeelah(played brilliantly by Keke Palmer) and the people who she meets and learns lessons from. This is a great movie and one of the best films I have seen.

• Jonathan G

  
  The best thing about this little flick is prolly the acting. But it's also a rousing inspirational film.

Read all 20 featured audience ratings