This follows a bunch of teenage kids competing in the National Spelling Bee something that I didn't actually know existed . Hopefully we won't see a British equivalent because there's nothing we hate more in this country that clever kids . Seriously where I live if your daughter isn't pregnant by 14 and your son hasn't been taken into care you have some how failed as a parent . We make the average American redneck look like Albert Einstien in comparison Maybe that's what I found the first half of SPELLBOUND a real drag as we're introduced to the genuinely proud parents as they talk up their children's achievements . Can there be any bigger turn off than a parent hyping up their child's ability ? I thought not . Hell even Ozzie and Sharon Osbourne are bragging about their offspring's achievements and I doubt if Jack or Kelly could spell their own names so lets not over estimate the abilities of any of the kids in this documentary . But let's not forget that the parents are basking in the glory of their offspring and you can't help but feel this contest is more of an ego trip for the parents more than a public display of child prodigies . If the first half of SPELLBOUND has any saving grace it's that I instantly knew who I'd be cheering for - Ted from a poor Mid West town and Ashley from some inner city smoke , I guess it must be a class thing . And every good story needs a villain , in this case it must be Harry who struck me as a arrogant ubergeek
The first half was an ordeal for this viewer but then as soon as the Spelling Bee got underway I was mesmerized by it . I'm by no means stupid but I had never heard of most of the words these kids were asked to spell and I won't be typing any of the words out because I doubt if the spell checker on this site has heard of them either . Boy oh boy what clever kids and it's slightly shameful the winner only gets a trophy , they deserve much more . Oh and there's some very amusing moments like when ubergeek claims that he lost because the guy reading out the words mispronounced something . Let me spell it it out : B-A-D-L-O-S-E-R
So if you stumble along this documentary I'd bare in mind that despite its very irritating start it does become a fascinating piece of viewing later on
The first half was an ordeal for this viewer but then as soon as the Spelling Bee got underway I was mesmerized by it . I'm by no means stupid but I had never heard of most of the words these kids were asked to spell and I won't be typing any of the words out because I doubt if the spell checker on this site has heard of them either . Boy oh boy what clever kids and it's slightly shameful the winner only gets a trophy , they deserve much more . Oh and there's some very amusing moments like when ubergeek claims that he lost because the guy reading out the words mispronounced something . Let me spell it it out : B-A-D-L-O-S-E-R
So if you stumble along this documentary I'd bare in mind that despite its very irritating start it does become a fascinating piece of viewing later on