A Week Away movie review 2021

MOVIE TITLE: A Week Away

Available on Netflix on March 26, 2021

RATING: PG

LENGTH: 1 hour 34 minutes

IN A NUTSHELL:

If you’ve been in the mood for another fun high school musical but with a Christian slant, here you go! This sweet musical blends faith, friendship, and fun that Christian audiences will enjoy. Non-Christian families can also feel safe watching it with their kids and point out some positive lessons learned while tapping their toes to easy-breezy music and dancing. The cast looks like they had a complete blast making this family-friendly film that features reimagined music by Amy Grant, Michael W. Smith, and For King & Country.

This is the summary by Netflix: Nowhere left to go, Will Hawkins finds himself at a summer camp for the first time. His instinct is to run, but he finds a friend, a father figure, and even a girl who awakens his heart. Most of all, he finally finds a home.

THINGS I LIKED:

Christian movies are kind of famous for being super cheesy and not very good, but I thought they did a pretty good job on this film overall!
Kevin Quinn is the leading man and a Zac Efron in the making. He has a lot of chemistry and star potential.
I had seen Bailee Madison in some of her previous movies but never knew she could sing!
There’s a cute intro during the opening credits.
The heartfelt movie takes place in Nashville, Tennessee, appropriate when you consider all of the musical talents in that city.
Comedienne Sherri Shepherd is all smiles and a fun addition to the film.
Lots of good choreography to songs that are catchy and will make you want to sing or dance along.
I love it when movies reference other movies. There’s a cute John Hughes movie montage. Other movie mentions include Mr. And Mrs. Smith and Ferris Bueller’s Day Off and Apocalypse Now movies.
Keep watching during the final credits for some more entertaining clips.
Fans of Amy Grant will be thrilled to see her make a quick cameo performance.
As a Christian-based movie, it doesn’t beat you over the head with preaching. In fact, it mostly tucks its Christian doctrine into songs, rather than have characters spend a lot of time talking.

THINGS I DIDN’T LIKE:

Admittedly, the script is super cheesy with a story we’ve seen done before many times.
Most of the kids look a LOT older than high school kids.
One of the characters had an instantaneous transformation that should have taken a lot longer, especially considering his past.
There are a few lip-sync moments that didn’t work very well.
It definitely doesn’t take a hard nose-dive into doctrine, but skirts around tough issues with a softer, gentler approach to the idea of love and God.
The film won’t make any new converts but will be a breath of fresh air for its Christian audience.