Keke Palmer

Eleven year-old Akeelah Anderson's life is not easy: her father is dead, her mom ignores her, her brother runs with the local gangbangers. She is a smart girl, but her environment threatens to strangle her aspirations. Responding to a threat by her school's principal, Akeelah decides to participate in a spelling bee to avoid detention for her many absences. Much to her surprise and embarrassment, she wins. Her principal asks her to seek coaching from...

The small town of Pacashau, Georgia, has fallen on hard times, but the people are counting on the church choir to lift their spirits by winning the national Joyful Noise Competition. But the discord between its two leading ladies threatens to tear everything apart.

Carrie Watts begrudgingly lives with her busy, overprotective son, Ludie, and pretentious daughter-in-law, Jessie Mae. No longer able to drive and forbidden to travel alone, she wishes for freedom from the confines of the house and begs her son to take her on a visit to her hometown of Bountiful. When he refuses, Mrs. Watts is undeterred and makes an escape to the local bus station, where she befriends Thelma, a young woman traveling home.

Years after their original race, the tortoise and the hare decide to race again, this time bringing along their kids. Along the way they learn new lessons, and the importance of family.

In addition to being saddled with an unruly foster teen, Madea has two troubled nieces to deal with. Lisa is engaged to an abusive and controlling investment banker and Vanessa is finding it difficult to open herself to the affection of a bus driver/artist Frankie because of childhood abuse. Wreaking havoc on both of the girls's lives is their mother Victoria.