This is a rich, wonderful film about meeting, and overcoming, the challenges faced by inner city American youth. You’ll recognize Laurence Fishburne (The Matrix) and Angela Bassett, both are great as the teacher and the parent of Akeelah, a gifted young girl who seeks the national spelling title. Keke Palmer is superb in the title role. This is a fantastic and uplifting movie yet it avoids the common hollywood pitfall of pandering to politically correct or stereotypical charicatures of African American Culture. (note a few language and minor references to drugs and gangs which are totally appropriate in the context of the film).