Akeelah and the Bee
Lionsgate | Release Date: April 28, 2006 CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
72
METASCORE
Generally favorable reviews based on 30 Critic Reviews
Positive:
27
Mixed:
3
Negative:
0
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Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
100
Chicago Sun-TimesRoger Ebert
Keke Palmer, a young Chicago actress whose first role was as Queen Latifah's niece in "Barbershop 2," becomes an important young star with this movie. It puts her in Dakota Fanning and Thora Cross territory, and there's something about her poise and self-possession that hints she will grow up to be a considerable actress. Read full review
90
NewsweekDevin Gordon
Splendiferous. Read full review
88
Boston GlobeWesley Morris
All the gears, in fact, are shamelessly visible, yet they lock smoothly and resonantly into place. If Akeelah and the Bee is a generic, well-oiled commercial contraption, it is the first to credibly dramatize the plight of a truly gifted, poor black child. Read full review
83
Entertainment WeeklyScott Brown
Blessed with excellent turns by Angela Bassett and Laurence Fishburne, this feel-gooder revels in its hip-to-be-square hyperliteracy, and neatly exceeds its own PSA-ness, practically amounting to a black, preteen "Good Will Hunting." Read full review
83
Baltimore SunChris Kaltenbach
A movie like this could easy slide into Shirley Temple territory, showcasing a child actor so full of sweetness and light and good, old-fashioned spunk that audiences wince. But Palmer, whose enthusiasm and energy never seem forced, avoids all those traps; her Akeelah is never less than believable. Read full review
80
Dallas ObserverJim Ridley
A sweet-natured, immensely likable family film. Read full review
80
The New York TimesLawrence Van Gelder
The innate suspense and charm of the spelling bee, along with a trio of crack performances, turn what is in essence a formulaic sports picture into something more satisfying: an underdog tale that manages to inspire without being sappy. Read full review
80
Chicago ReaderAndrea Gronvall
This small gem about a South Central LA girl with a gift for spelling restores luster to the family genre. Read full review
80
Film ThreatFelix Vasques Jr.
A film like this has to be seen. It's beautiful, it's encouraging, and it really inspires its audience to commit to something positive. Read full review
75
Christian Science MonitorPeter Rainer
A slight but winning heart-tugger. Read full review
75
New York Daily NewsJack Mathews
I'm not sure how tolerable this would be without Palmer's charm, because this is a formulated script where everything is tied up in perfect bows, just like life isn't. Read full review
75
TV Guide MagazineMaitland McDonagh
Sentimental, manipulative, predictable and utterly charming. Read full review
75
Philadelphia InquirerCarrie Rickey
In its final act, Akeelah is as exciting as any Final Four matchup. What it may lack in cinematic art it compensates for in abecedarian adrenaline guaranteed to pump the pulse and the spirits of viewers from 10 to 90. Read full review
75
San Francisco ChronicleRuthe Stein
Akeelah and the Bee connects where it counts most, on an emotional level. Only a curmudgeon could watch this feisty but vulnerable youngster rack up victories against all odds without tearing up. Read full review
75
PremiereSara Brady
The climactic spelling bee sequence is as tautly written and edited as any gridiron drama, and Palmer's performance here is truly gripping. Read full review
70
The Hollywood ReporterMichael Rechtshaffen
Effectively anchoring the picture is Keke Palmer's lovely lead performance as Akeelah Anderson. Read full review
70
VarietyJustin Chang
This earnest weepie plays like "The Karate Kid" with a pro-literacy agenda, pushing all the right emotional buttons yet hitting quite a few wrong ones in the process. Read full review
70
Village VoiceBenjamin Strong
It helps that newcomer Keke Palmer nails it as the 11-year-old prodigy, avoiding cuteness and conveying more angst than all the pasty freaks in "Spellbound" combined. Read full review
70
L.A. WeeklyChuck Wilson
While it can't have been easy to find action points for a drama about vocabulary drills, Atchison comes up with a steady stream of plot-propelling business, including Akeelah's flair for jump rope, a skill that serves her beautifully in a clinch moment. Read full review
70
Los Angeles TimesKenneth Turan
A genuinely sweet and determinedly inspirational family film that features a charming young actress in the title role. It's a successful feel-good movie, but it would make you feel even better if it didn't push quite so hard for its desired effects. Read full review
70
Washington PostAnn Hornaday
By turns funny, affecting tale. Read full review
67
The A.V. ClubNathan Rabin
As the conceptually similar documentary "Spellbound" proved, spelling bees are innately dramatic. But that doesn't keep Atchison from constantly pushing the film toward theatrical moments instead of letting the drama arise organically from the story. Read full review
67
Seattle Post-IntelligencerSean Axmaker
You can't help but root for Akeelah as she reclaims the pride in her talents and her achievements. That's an idea worth spelling out to a young audience. Read full review
63
Chicago TribuneMichael Phillips
Predictable, corny and formulaic...Yet this latest triumph of the spelling-bee spirit, like last year's earnest, flawed film version of "Bee Season," features a film-saving performance where it counts most: from the kid playing the kid with big brain and even bigger heart. Read full review
63
USA TodayClaudia Puig
You could be cynical about the first movie produced by the coffee colossus Starbucks. But there's nothing cynical about Akeelah's story of courage and determination. Read full review
63
New York PostKyle Smith
So warm and well-meaning that you may find yourself wanting to like it more than you really do. Read full review
63
The Globe and Mail (Toronto)Rick Groen
Normally, such saccharine inspiration only manages to clog the heart, not warm it. But there's a true original in this den of clichés and her name is Keke Palmer. Read full review
60
EmpireAnna Smith
There's charm in this simple underdog tale, but clunky plotting and characterisation mean it has 'telemovie' written all over it. Read full review
50
Austin ChronicleMarrit Ingman
It is a rewarding tale for public educators, parents, and kids with big dreams. Read full review
50
Portland OregonianMarc Mohan
It's unfortunate that the lack of originality in plot and character keeps Akeelah and the Bee stuck firmly in "After-School Special" territory. Read full review
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