by Rivkela Brodsky
Daily Lobo
When you hear the title of the movie "Akeelah and the Bee," you may wonder what the "bee" stands for.
It's a movie about a spelling bee.
"Spelling bee?" you ask.
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That's exactly what Akeelah, the 11-year-old main character from south Los Angeles, asked. But that was before she goes to the Scripps National Spelling Bee.
I know. I'm not into spelling bees either.
But this movie is about more than a spelling bee. And it's about more than an African-American girl succeeding in a world that doesn't support her.
It's about Akeelah becoming Akeelah.
Dr. Larabee, played by Laurence Fishburne, becomes Akeelah's spelling coach.
He also faced adversity in his younger years. He made it to the Scripps National Spelling Bee when he was younger, but didn't have a coach. Needless to say, he didn't win.
But he has hopes Akeelah will, and so does the principal of Akeelah's school. He really wants his school to succeed. There's never been a spelling bee at the school.
And at first, Akeelah is resistant to going up in front of people and sharing her talent. She doesn't want people to think she is a brainiac. It's not exactly cool at her school.
Spelling isn't encouraged by anyone, not even her mother, played by Angela Bassett. In fact, Akeelah is not allowed to participate in the regional spelling bee because she has been skipping classes and was caught sneaking out of the house to study spelling in Beverly Hills.
Although you could understand Basset's concern for her children, the girl is just spelling. That's a lot better than Akeelah's sister, who is a single mom, and her brother, who's been hanging out with the wrong guy - Derrick-T.
But many of Akeelah's friends, including fellow speller Javier, will do anything for this girl, rally around her and help her make it - even Derrick-T. She soon realizes that she has many coaches out there, and much of the community from Derrick-T to the mailman helps her study words.
You'll be amazed by the words Akeelah, played by Keke Palmer, spells, and you'll be rooting for her every step of the way. She has a character depth that makes you want her to win.
You might even get a little teary-eyed by her performance at the Scripps National Spelling Bee.
You also might shed a few tears when she connects with Fishburne. He teaches her more than words. He has her read Frederick Douglass and Malcolm X because he wants the words she learns to have meaning to her.
She's also not allowed to talk "ghetto" around him.
But she teaches him a lesson, too - that although life may be hard, the talents we have and the things we enjoy in life bring us through the pain.
She also becomes the inspiration for her community. She brings her family together and heals some of the pain caused by the death of her father when she was 6.
Her talent not only brings her success, but gives her something to be passionate about and helps her discover friendship, family and love, l-o-v-e. Yeah, they spell this out for you at the end.
But the biggest lesson isn't about winning or losing or how to spell, it's something Fisburne teaches her - not to be afraid of who you are and what you can achieve.
Yeah, that's called love, l-o-v-e.
"Akeelah and the Bee"
Opens nationwide April 28
Grade: B+
