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.
| CleanFlicks Parental Advice |
| Language |
- D-word (2)
- H-word (3)
- A-word (1)
- some imitative phrases (Spelling bees are serious sh*t," "Your brother fine," "Stupid ass spelling bee," "(Hey) freak," "Like hell you ain't," "Brainiac," "You go girl," "You kicked some major booty," "Momma should just chill," "They'll tear your black ass up)
- S-word (1)
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| Sex/Non-Graphic Nudity |
- some sexuality (A boy kisses Akeelah on the cheek.)
- some non-explicit nudity (Tanya shows some cleavage.)
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| Violence |
- some non-graphic violence (Two girls at school grab and struggle with Akeelah.)
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| Drugs/Alcohol |
- Smoking (Tanya smokes once.)
- Drinking (An old man in the street carries a brown paper bag.)
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