Review of Akeelah and the Bee (2006) by Midhush I — 23 Apr 2008

Hmm... black girl in the suburbs, spelling bee, laurence fishburne playing yet another reincarnation of Morpheus. Sounds pretty boring and cookie-cutter right. But what truly elevates this film is the performance of Keke Palmer, who infuses Akeelah with genuine warmth and affection.

The spelling bee doesn't pan out how you'd expect and it doesn't resort to cheap sentiment either, even during Laurence Fishburne's inspirational speeches. Much better than expected, and a "family" movie that is well worth checking out, especially since its a movie from the hood without language and drugs and violence, something that seems a paradox in these days where every black movie is about drugs, violence or the barbershop down the street.