REVIEW: Bailee Madison and Kevin Quinn Make for Perfect Leads in Netflix’s Faith-Based, “A Week Away”
Faith-based musical, A Week Away follows Will (Kevin Quinn), a troubled teen who continues to find himself always just escaping trouble. When his luck runs out, Will is given the option to either serve time in a juvenile detention center or go with counselor, Kristen (Sherri Shepard) and her son, George (Jahbril Cook) to a Christian summer camp. Will decides camp is the better option, and off he goes, not expecting that his week there will change his life forever. There he meets fellow camper, Avery (Bailee Madison) and, with the help of Avery, George, and some of the other campers, he begins to realize there is more to life than always running away.
A Week Away is essentially if Young Life, the religious organization meant for young people, and High School Musical/Camp Rock got together for a spin-off. A group of young people come together, breaking into song whenever they can, and the two leads spend the movie falling for one another. The lone difference with this movie is its setting at a Christian camp. The story is extremely predictable but the music is catchy, although a little cliché. The songs featured in the movie are all contemporary Christian songs re-recorded for the film or original Christian songs written for it. None left me wanting to download them immediately like “We’re All in this Together” from HSM or “We Rock” from Camp Rock. Each number does feature choreographed dance routines and fun camp settings, which help amp up the cheese factor, but never reach the level of previous teenage musicals.
The two biggest pluses going for this movie are that parents can sit and watch it with their children and/or feel okay leaving their children alone to watch it and the charming cast. Madison and Quinn are the perfect choices to lead this movie. Both encapsulate a wholesome quality which oozes into their characters and make for quite an attractive pair. The duo is joined in the movie by Cook and Kat Conner Sterling, who plays Avery’s best friend at camp, Presley. If Madison and Quinn’s Avery and Will are Gabriella and Troy from HSM, think of Cook and Sterling’s George and Presley as Chad and Taylor. A little awkward, but in a good natured way, providing support and some comedic relief to their friends.
A Week Away is one of the few original musical movies released by Netflix and, hopefully, won’t be the last. As noted above, this movie will not be for everyone, but fans of Madison and Quinn and peppy teenage musicals should definitely check it out.
Grade: C