Smarts, sensitivity reign in 'Akeelah and the Bee'

There's been little buzz about "Akeelah and the Bee."

And its inspirational plot — inner-city underdog overcomes the odds and becomes a winner — is more After-School Special than special.

But "Akeelah" is the sort of sleeper you don't see coming: a feel-good movie that also feels genuine, even when it's at its most rah-rah.

Lions Gate 'Akeelah and the Bee' A- The verdict: You'll be spellbound. Director: Doug Atchison Starring: Laurence Fishburne, Angela Bassett, Keke Palmer, Curtis Armstrong, J.R. Villarreal Run time: 112 minutes Release date: April 28, 2006 Rating: PG for some language. See showtimes On the web Official movie site View the trailer    Trailers require Quicktime Rate 'Akeelah and the Bee'   Go see it   Make it a matinee   Wait to rent   Don't bother Voter Limit: Once per Hour View Poll Results

The bee is the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, and Akeelah (irresistible Keke Palmer) is a plucky 11-year-old who lives with her widowed mom (Angela Bassett) in South Central Los Angeles, where police sirens sing her to sleep at night. To help shut them out, she still plays imaginary Scrabble games with her deceased dad, thereby developing considerable verbal skills that aren't always evident in her schoolwork.

That may be intentional. Her smarts have always been a problem. "You know that feeling where you don't fit in?" she asks us at the beginning. "I feel that way every day."

Cornered into competing in the school spelling bee by a teacher, Akeelah wins (to her embarrassment as well as her amazement) and begins her relentless march to D.C. Not that it's an easy journey. Her overstressed mom isn't exactly supportive, and Akeelah herself wonders if she wants to represent a school that can't even afford doors for the toilet stalls.

Her older brother, who hangs with the wrong crowd (assuming there are "right" crowds in tough South Central), almost finishes her off. He points out she's going up against a bunch of rich kids who probably have French doors on their toilet stalls. "They're gonna tear your black [behind] up," he says.

However, as in "Good Will Hunting," "The Karate Kid" and so many other pictures, our star has a gruff but caring mentor. This time, it's Laurence Fishburne, who plays a word-wise Henry Higgins to her Eliza Doolittle. He presses her to fulfill her potential, not just as a wordsmith, but as a person.

Fishburne is also one of the film's producers. That he has put his money — as well as his time, talent and star power — into this project tells you something. As does Bassett's participation (reuniting the two who played Tina and Ike, the battling Turners, in "What's Love Got to Do With It").

"Akeelah and the Bee" is a delight despite its occasional tendency toward formula and preachiness. That's partly due to the adult stars, who keep things steady, and partly to Doug Atchison's smart script and sensitive direction.

But most of all, there's Keke, whom you may remember as the juvenile delinquent Madea is forced to foster in "Madea's Family Reunion." She's irrepressible, resourceful, endearing, feisty, clever, cute-as-a button ... well, she's just the kind of kid actor who makes you run out of words. Though she never does.