Grade:  C

Director:  Jeffrey Blitz		Released:  2002
Writer:		MPAA Rating:  G
Players:		Running time:  97 minutes

Ratings System

I was disappointed with Spellbound.  Not disappointed with the film, disappointed because I was hoping this material would be chock full of the same overbearing, living-through-their-child type parents found hanging around the tyke beauty pageant circuit.  Oh sure, there's a parent here or there that is pushing a bit hard on their kid, but mostly the kids want to be involved, and want to be known as the best spellers in America.  No, the kind of parents I was hoping for are the overweight, trailer trash, out of work mom, and the mousy, let the wife do whatever she wants even if it means thousands of dollars spent on makeup and costumes for a 2 year old, dad.  And the child who constantly whines about not wanting to do it, while the parents goad them along (following assertions of the child's enduring love for it).

As a documentary Spellbound is interesting, not compelling.  I didn't really care that much about the kids, and whether they could win the national competition.  I was interested, not invested.

- crocoPuffs