■ STICK TO THE SCRIPPS: Fishburne and Palmer spell it out.
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.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on April 28, 2006. Read the original PDF.