"Akeelah and the Bee” (Lionsgate Pictures)
Spelling As Sport
There are physical sports and there are mental sports. Baseball is a physical sport. Spelling bees are a mental sport. If you don’t believe me just watch the new film “Akeelah and the Bee.” In this film one eleven-year old girl trains for the competition and it is as grueling as training for any sport has ever been. It takes stamina and grit; it takes intelligence and courage; it takes determination and heart. “Akeelah and the Bee” has all those ingredients and that makes for a compelling movie.
Akeelah Anderson (Keke Palmer) does not want to be a champion speller. She just wants to get through the school year without being bored to death. Her principal (Curtis Armstrong) knows what a good speller she is and he coerces her into entering the school spelling bee, which she wins. He then encourages her to go to the area competition which she also wins. The next event is the regional and for that she needs a coach. The principal convinces his friend, Dr Larabee (Laurence Fishburne) to work with her, and this is where the movie gets really interesting.
Keke Palmer is amazing as Akeelah. She is a talented actress and brings all the facets of Akeelah’s life to light. She makes her mournful for her dead father, admiring of her workaholic mother (Angela Bassett), in awe of her Air Force brother, and loyal to a fault to her best friend. She also conveys the intelligence that Akeelah has and makes it a natural part of her personality.
The heart of the story is Akeelah and her participation in the various spelling bees, but the side story is how Akeelah affects those around her and this is perhaps the best part of the film. She is embraced by her community who sees in her a champion. She is one of them and she represents the best of them.
Fishburne shines in his role as the educated man who trains her to be a winner. It is a very different type of performance than Fishburne usually gives. He underplays the character and conveys more with his facial expressions and particularly with is eyes than with his words.
Basset is also good. She has to transition her character from a cold, hard woman to a loving mother and do it believably. Bassett does it. Slowly the defenses fall down and the heart opens up.
The film is rated PG for mild profanity.
“Akeelah and the Bee” is an inspiring story about what one individual can accomplish. If Akeelah can focus on a goal she can raise the level of pride for an entire community. If she can win at her sport she can make her entire community winners. She is the symbol they will follow, and her triumphs will also be theirs.
Go to see “Akeelah and the Bee” and be elevated. This is a film that makes you feel good, makes you feel proud, and makes you feel hopeful. Not many movies can do that. “Akeelah and the Bee” can.
I scored “Akeelah and the Bee” a stung 8 out of 10.
