A Week Away
Image Credit: Netflix
Phoebe Simcock,
18th Aug 2021
Tags:
Life
Review
Drama
Family
Musical
Sometimes when I open the Netflix app it can feel like a lucky dip, or unlucky dip. I find myself either spending hours searching for something to enjoy when nothing is truly hitting the spot or I’ll see the first advertisement and take a punt. I suppose I found the recent release ‘A Week Away’ by happy accident, although it had been recommended to me before with no indication of the plot. Happy is the operative word in this case, it would be hard to leave the film feeling anything other.
‘A Week Away’ is a musical based around the life of Will Hawkins. Will has taken the wrong path in life and has to make a difficult decision which results in him joining a summer camp.
Will’s friend George shows him the way, but Will tries to leave the past behind him in order to make new friends and impress Avery, whose dad is the camp leader.
He is receiving God’s love.
A series of challenges in the camp bring the group closer together and sometimes further apart. Avery and George try to show Will that he is receiving God’s love, but as the truth starts to come to the surface, it is clear that Will needs to tell the group about his past.
I hadn’t read the plot nor seen the trailer when I chose this film to watch, the only glimpse I had was the picture that Netflix had used of Avery and Will holding hands. So I assumed it was a love story, maybe the couple have to spend a week away from each other for some reason. Either way, I can’t resist a rom-com and the idea of a rather unrealistic romance suited me for the odd viewing.
I was surprised, however, when the film started and the opening credits showed that seemed to be a really upbeat song with lots of pictures and hints towards a summer camp, but the opening scene presented itself as quite grey and with dark connotations of a struggle.
The grey and dull opening was a lot more important than I realised.
The clothes were darker colours, the scenery was very dull and the fun element was missing. I was surprised that this was even the same film shown in the opening credits, but this grey and dull opening was a lot more important than I realised.
The first musical number comes from George’s mother, who urges Will to join the camp. She brings the joy immediately and this change of pace and hope is then followed by the summer camp bus filled with colourful t-shirts, and yet Will continues to be wearing grey. This was done subtly but when it daunted on me that Will’s shirt coincided with his mood, I appreciated the premise of the film even more and I really hoped he could join them in a more colourful life.
George definitely bought the comedic element to the film.
George definitely bought the comedic element to the film, and his funny quips and antics (including his rendition of ‘Baby, Baby’) were the parts I enjoyed the most. His relatable quality fused beautifully with the more sensitive element of Will’s past and Avery’s passion for promoting the ideals of the camp.
Overall, I saw more good in this film than bad. It did initially feel like a High School Musical film but the message behind the film was much deeper and the faith quality added to Will’s quandary between right and wrong. The songs held a strong message and the characters were very well developed too.
