Metacritic Movie Ratings
Akeelah and the Bee Reviews

A sample of reviews from critics across the country.

• 100

  out of 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.

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• 83

  out of 100

  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."

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• 80

  out of 100

  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.

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• 70

  out of 100

  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.

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• 70

  out of 100

  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.

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• 70

  out of 100

  The Hollywood ReporterMichael Rechtshaffen

  Effectively anchoring the picture is Keke Palmer's lovely lead performance as Akeelah Anderson.

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• 63

  out of 100

  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.

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