A Week Away: An Honest Review

 

A Week Away: An Honest Review

 

Synopsis:

 

A troubled teenager takes a leap of faith by attending summer camp, where he finds love, friends, and a place to belong.

 

My Review:

I can't tell you how long I've waited for a summer camp, romance musical! And the best thing is, this film is actually very high-quality, and lacks the common tropes that contemporary romances seem to have. The musical segments were beautifully done and not at all abrupt or out of place. The vocals of Kevin Quinn (Will) and Bailey Madison (Avery) were superb and the songs chosen for this film could not have been more appropriate. With songs like "Dive" by Steve Curtis Chapman and "Place In This World" by Micheal W. Smith, the film really came alive. The choreography was well done, and I found myself dancing along with the cast in many of the musical numbers. 

 

Now that I have finished fan-girling over the musical and production aspects of the show, let me move on to the overall plot. It wasn't the typical bad boy-meets-good girl story that I was expecting, and I was pleasantly surprised. The backstory they gave Will, the male lead, was solid and touching, and his sentiments of not belonging and putting on a facade to fit in really resonated with me. Will's character arc was tastefully done, realistic, and not at all cliche, despite its rather rapid pace. Avery's character journey was also very well done, and her character arc, though not as powerful as Will's, was beautiful to see. The chemistry between the characters was both humorous and touching, and their struggles with one another added a very natural and human dynamic to the story. The supporting roles of George and Presley enhanced the show and also brought some humor, which helped to ease the more tense moments. Additionally, the character of Shawn brought a unique element that showed that sometimes the flaws we find in others happen to be the same things we ourselves struggle with. 

 

Moving on to the characters, I would like to discuss Will first. The backstory given to Will was very touching, having lost his parents at a young age and going in and out of foster care due to his reckless behavior. His resistance to all things spiritual, yet his brilliant cover as a Christ-following teenager helped you to really see the push-pull dynamics of his character. Will was resistant to the fact that God cared because his parents had passed away, leaving him all alone. But he, somewhat without knowing it, was drawn to the love and joy that others had because they chose to follow Jesus. He struggled with telling the truth and living a lie, something I feel like a lot of people go through. The ending is very satisfying, and though I won't give away any spoilers, let me just say that it will pull at your heart strings. Will's relationship with Avery is also very cute as he tries to play the charming hot-shot for a good portion of the film to get her attention, only to find out she isn't buying it. 

 

Will: It’s just been so long since I’ve felt so connected.

 Like I am part of something bigger.

 

That brings us to the character of Avery. Bailey Madison was the perfect actress for the part, and her emotions were so beautiful, I almost cried myself. Her love for the Lord, and strength in the midst of grief really drew me to her. She is outspoken, but has a peaceful nature about her that is very soothing. What I probably most enjoyed about her character, is that she is a happy balance of two extremes: really fun-loving and really serious. In some scenes, she's acting like a teenager and making witty remarks, the next minute she shows the maturity of someone three times her age as she encourages her friends or mentors someone in need, all in moderation. Her relationship with God appears to be one based on a simple, child-like faith, for as she says "I just choose to believe, you know? I mean, that's faith." She remains mostly static throughout the film, though has some key moments in her character journey, but they aren't as potent as Will's. Her relationship with Will is also very sweet, and her feelings for him are genuine, not simply romantic, and consist of a true care for him as an individual. 

 

George and Presley were great characters as well, and it was so hilarious to see their relationship progress in its own quirky way throughout the show.  Their struggles with self-worth and confidence were relatable, and it was nice to see them *spoiler alert* finally content with who God made them to be by the end of the movie. 

 

The faith element wasn't as strong as in some films, and for this reason many people have criticized this show. However, I believe that it had just the right balance. To add more would have been too overpowering, and I think they balanced the faith element accordingly with the intensity of the movie. It was more light-heated, so the religious elements were more subtle.

 

 Altogether one of the best movies I have ever watched, and I highly recommend it! This show is very under-rated, so please, share it with your friends and family, I promise you won't regret it!

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐