Greetings again from the darkness. Three spelling bee movies in the past couple of years and "Akeelah" is the most entertaining, though not as mesmerizing as "Spellbound", nor as slick as "Spelling Bee". Written and directed by relative newcomer Doug Atchison, this is a feel good movie with a bit of "Whale Rider" and "Hoosiers".
What makes the film work is the excellent performance of young Keke Palmer as Akeelah. Her luminescent smile and awkward junior high "freak" movements lend a touch of realism and pure charm. Laurence Fishburne and Angela Bassett add a bit of class, even if neither are in prime form. Young J.R. Villareal is a scene stealer as Akeelah's other side of the tracks friend, Javier.
Sadly, there are enough clichés in the script to fill the city bus that Akeelah rides from her Crenshaw neighborhood to yuppie haven, Woodland Hills. Screen veteran Tzi Ma plays the overbearing and isolating Asian father of spelling sensation Dylan, played by Sean Michael. Of course, Akeelah is raised by single mom Bassett, whose husband was shot dead on the street (bad neighborhood). Society drop out Fishburne is inspired by Akeelah to resume his teaching career after she helps him come to grips with his own personal tragedy. Bassett deals with her good son/military vs. bad son/gang-banger. And don't forget that it takes a community to raise a spelling champ!
Luckily these issues don't affect the upbeat inspirational message of the film. For a couple of fun notes, check out Craig Wasson as a contest announcer (he is best known for his role in 1984's "Body Double") and Eddie Steeple (Darnell in "My Name is Earl"). What makes Steeple's appearance a bit strange is the inclusion of the song "Rubberband Man" in the film, since he was the office supply delivery boy in the infamous Staples TV ad. Todd Wagner (he has a cameo as a contest judge) and Mark Cuban have struck gold again with a low budget family film that will surely create dinner time conversation. Yes, there are some out of focus moments and garbled sound editing, but I dare you to not smile and be touched by Akeelah.
What makes the film work is the excellent performance of young Keke Palmer as Akeelah. Her luminescent smile and awkward junior high "freak" movements lend a touch of realism and pure charm. Laurence Fishburne and Angela Bassett add a bit of class, even if neither are in prime form. Young J.R. Villareal is a scene stealer as Akeelah's other side of the tracks friend, Javier.
Sadly, there are enough clichés in the script to fill the city bus that Akeelah rides from her Crenshaw neighborhood to yuppie haven, Woodland Hills. Screen veteran Tzi Ma plays the overbearing and isolating Asian father of spelling sensation Dylan, played by Sean Michael. Of course, Akeelah is raised by single mom Bassett, whose husband was shot dead on the street (bad neighborhood). Society drop out Fishburne is inspired by Akeelah to resume his teaching career after she helps him come to grips with his own personal tragedy. Bassett deals with her good son/military vs. bad son/gang-banger. And don't forget that it takes a community to raise a spelling champ!
Luckily these issues don't affect the upbeat inspirational message of the film. For a couple of fun notes, check out Craig Wasson as a contest announcer (he is best known for his role in 1984's "Body Double") and Eddie Steeple (Darnell in "My Name is Earl"). What makes Steeple's appearance a bit strange is the inclusion of the song "Rubberband Man" in the film, since he was the office supply delivery boy in the infamous Staples TV ad. Todd Wagner (he has a cameo as a contest judge) and Mark Cuban have struck gold again with a low budget family film that will surely create dinner time conversation. Yes, there are some out of focus moments and garbled sound editing, but I dare you to not smile and be touched by Akeelah.