Storyline

Eleven year-old Akeelah Anderson's life is not easy: her father is dead, her mom ignores her, her brother runs with the local gangbangers. She's smart, but her environment threatens to strangle her aspirations. Responding to a threat by her school's principal, Akeelah participates in a spelling bee to avoid detention for her many absences. Much to her surprise and embarrassment, she wins. Her principal asks her to seek coaching from an English professor named Dr. Larabee for the more prestigious regional bee. As the possibility of making it all the way to the Scripps National Spelling Bee looms, Akeelah could provide her community with someone to rally around and be proud of -- but only if she can overcome her insecurities and her distracting home life. She also must get past Dr. Larabee's demons, and a field of more experienced and privileged fellow spellers.

Plot Keywords

scrabble, mentor, child prodigy, courage, inner city, neighborhood, precocious child, teacher student relationship, family relationships, school principal, middle school, african american, female protagonist, loss of daughter, single mother, bully, divorce, father son relationship, first kiss, forgery

Short Review

Akeelah obeys every sports-movie rule, but trading end-zone dances for etymology gives it a geeky innocence. What's the word? Splendiferous.

Trailer

Streaming Service

1. Apple iTunes : Track Price: 7.99, Track Rental Price: 3.99, Collection Price: 7.99, Track Hd Price: 9.99, Track Hd Rental Price: 3.99, Collection Hd Price: 9.99

2. Amazon Video : From $3.99 to rent, From $7.99 to buy

3. Microsoft Store : Rent From $3.99

4. Vudu : [SD - Buy: 7.99, Rent: 3.99] [HDX - Buy: 9.99, Rent: 3.99]