Photo by Mollie Sivaram on Unsplash
By Kayla Brown, Arts and Entertainment Editor
Spoilers below:
After being on his own and trusting no one but himself, Will, played by Kevin Quinn, is introduced to family and faith in Netflix’s newest musical, “A Week Away.”
The musical aspect of the movie is impressive, turning what is often portrayed as boring church songs into upbeat, catchy songs that aren’t leaving my head anytime soon.
The movie, which has a Disney Channel feel to it, takes a few minutes before it becomes truly watchable, but the plot is there and strong overall.
Forced into the foster system after the death of his parents six years prior, Will has taken it upon himself to be the only person he can count on. This, combined with his rebellious streak, has led to seven schools, 22 different foster homes and numerous criminal offenses, including his most recent offense, “borrowing a cop car.”
This last offense, however, was the tipping point and Will is faced with a choice: go to juvie or spend a week at summer camp.
Ultimately, Will chooses a week away at Camp Aweegaway, under the impression that it’s the normal summer camp experience with swimming, ziplining and s’mores.
After a bus ride full of praise and worship songs and team names like the Crimson Angels and the Apostles, Will quickly comes to the realization that while Camp Aweegaway has the normal camp experience, it’s also, as he puts it, “church camp.”
Will is joined at camp by George, played by Jahbril Cook, who shows him the ropes and quickly becomes his closest confidant, the one camper who knows about his past.
Out of all the campers that he meets, the one that Will is most interested in getting to know is the camp director’s daughter, Avery, played by Bailee Madison. He even wants to be honest with her about his past, but decides against it.
Throughout the week, the two share intimate moments filled with song and dance, as well as a truce on the paintball field. They begin to truly care about each other, and Will begins to feel connected with someone for the first time since his parents’ death.
But as with every Christian or faith-based movie, someone needs to question faith. In this movie, it comes about three-quarters of the way through and truly challenges Quinn and Madison’s chemistry.
And they met the challenge, performing wonderfully, with such raw emotion that may leave viewers tearing up.
This moment of questioning is a huge stepping stone in not only Will and Avery’s relationship but the viewer-character relationship as well. For the first time, Will is completely honest about his past, allowing us to truly know him.
“A Week Away” shows the importance of not just faith, but being connected to someone or something. Although many may prefer not to have the actors singing every five minutes, I don’t think it would be as powerful if it was a traditional movie.