While at first glance a documentary following 8 contestants in the
1999 National Spelling Bee might seem like a sleeper, don't obey your
instincts: If this film was fiction it may very well have been directed by
Christopher Guest. This movie is hilarious, both intentionally and
inadvertently, throughout its 95 minute duration. (And don't be fooled by
the title, this film has nothing to do with the fantastic Hitchcock film of
the same name starring the late Gregory Peck.)
It was interesting to see a filmmaker take a subject I could
care less about (it's my opinion that spelling competitions are even less
important that Trivial Pursuit) and have me on the edge of my seat. There
is plenty to love in this film, whether it is the hyperactive spaz who
"talks like a musical robot", or the stereotypical mom who decorates her
house with bees.
I guess the only thing I would like to have seen in the film would have been
a epilogue visiting the children again today (the film was shot in 1999).
It'd be nice to find out how many of the kids went on to compete again in
following years. This is a tense, well-edited film that most people can
enjoy. While it probably doesn't require the big screen, the communal
laughter makes it worth the theater price.
