- Akeelah and the Bee
- Opened April 28, 2006 | Runtime:1 hr. 47 min.
PG
some language.
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An inspirational drama, Akeelah and the Bee is the story of Akeelah Anderson (Keke Palmer), a precocious eleven-year-old girl from south Los Angeles with a gift for words. Despite the objections of her mother Tanya (Angela Bassett), Akeelah enters various spelling contests, for which she is tutored by the forthright Dr. Larabee (Laurence Fishburne); her principal Mr. Welch (Curtis Armstrong) and the proud residents of her neighborhood. Akeelah’s aptitude earns her an opportunity to compete for a spot in the Scripps National Spelling Bee and in turn unites her neighborhood who witness the courage and inspiration of one amazing little girl. A Lionsgate Films and 2929 Entertainment production, Akeelah and the Bee was written and directed by Doug Atchison. The film’s producers are Sid Ganis, Nancy Hult Ganis, Michael Romersa, Danny Llewelyn and Laurence Fishburne; executive producers are Todd Wagner, Mark Cuban, Marc Butan and Helen Sugland.Read More
- Cast: Laurence Fishburne, Angela Bassett, Keke Palmer, Curtis Armstrong, Tzi Ma
- Director: Doug Atchison
- Genres: Drama, Childhood Drama, Urban Drama
Critic Reviews
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"...a genuinely sweet and determinedly inspirational family film that features a charming young actress in the title role."
Los Angeles Times
- Kenneth Turan
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"...there's nothing cynical about Akeelah's story of courage and determination."
USA Today
- Claudia Puig
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"...the spelling bee drama, receives its most conventionally uplifting treatment yet in Akeelah and the Bee."
Variety
- Justin Chang