Will Hawkins (Kevin Quinn) is a foster kid that has been through seven schools and 22 homes already. He is a troubled teenager with a long list of misdeeds. So basically, he is not the type of guy you will see in Christian camps.
But his recent arrest for attempting to steal a police car forces him to join one, or else it means juvenile detention.
Camp volunteer and her son, Kristin (Sherri Shepherd) and George (Jahbril Cook), help him know the mainstays at Camp Aweegaway. There is Presley (Kat Conner Sterling), George's crush. Sean (Iain Tucker), a camp tribe leader. David (David Koechner), the camp's administrator. And then there is Avery (Bailee Madison), the adorable daughter of the camp's director.
Will falls for Avery on the very first day at the camp. But to know her, he must get closer to her.
So Will pretended to be George's cousin and fabricated some stories about himself to look cool and fab.
But as the two get closer, the gravity of Will's lies and secrets starts to weigh in. What will Avery say if she finds out the truth about him?
Netflix rarely explores Christian films, so it is a surprise that "A Week Away" gets a go signal from the executives.
Anyway, "A Week Away" feels like it is a Disney movie knock-off. This film looks like it is an imitation of every classic teen musical the production giant ever produced. Just look at its premise. It is about campers who found love and friendship through music. Sounds a lot like "Camp Rock," right?
Although, I do not think that the movie intends to imitate Disney. It seems like it is a genuine film that wants to talk about faith and God's love.
The message of "A Week Away" comes from a place where it will surely draw sympathy. Will is a young boy who lost his parents, and along with it is his faith. He grows up to be a delinquent, blaming God for all of his sufferings.
Will's backstory will pull heartstrings if only the film emphasizes on it more. The tale of his struggle to find a connection can catch someone's attention. But the audience never witnessed his hardship. We rely on expositions and glimpses of his memory to feel compassion and pity. So it is hard to invest and empathize with him.
In essence, Will's character feels cheap and tacky. Actually, all of the characters are shoddy.
Avery is probably the most intriguing character in the movie, only because Bailee Madison's performance is terrific. But her character's inner battles are meaningless as the film never fully establishes them.
The meagering story does not help in enriching the narrative, as well. Supposedly, the film should be about Will's journey to find a place where he belongs. Yet "A Week Away" squeezes in a typical teenage love story and other subplots that do not contribute to the protagonist's transformation.
In all fairness, the songs and the choreography are all spectacular. It is nice that the songs are a balanced mixture of contemporary Christian and pop music. Though it sounds a lot like "High School Musical," but that does not matter.
"A Week Away" is not a very memorable film. It can be better if the director removes some unessential parts of it. But the songs are good and catchy. So, I guess it is an okay film to watch.
2/5
