By Dan Dunn
Special to the Daily Press

The movie: Akeelah and The Bee
The director: Doug Atchison
The stars: Angela Bassett, Laurence Fishburne, Keke Palmer

You may be wondering whether another spelling bee movie is really necessary. The answer is A-B-S-O-L-U-T-E-L-Y. Despite being fairly predictable and cliché-ridden, “Akeelah and the Bee” is an irresistible treat thanks, in very large part, to 11-year-old Keke Palmer’s superb performance in the title role. Akeelah’s a kid from South Central LA with an off-the-charts aptitude for words. Fearful of being teased, she hides her gift, which developed as a coping mechanism in the wake of her father’s death. At her principal’s insistence, she enters and wins her school’s bee. Laurence Fishburne chips in with a skillfully muted turn as a college professor who guides Akeelah down the road to the Scripps National Spelling Bee.

(Rated PG. Running time: 112 minutes)