A Week Away Explained

A Week Away
Director:Roman White
Music:Adam Watts
Cinematography:James King
Editing:Parker Adams
Distributor:Netflix
Runtime:97 minutes
Country:United States
Language:English

A Week Away is a 2021 American Christian musical romance film directed by Roman White. The film was written by Alan Powell, Kali Bailey, and Gabe Vasquez. The film's songs were produced and mixed by Adam Watts and co-produced by Cory Clark (the team also co-wrote the film's original songs with Powell). It stars Bailee Madison, Kevin Quinn, David Koechner, and Sherri Shepherd[1] [2] with cameos from Amy Grant and Steven Curtis Chapman. Producers for the film are Alan Powell, Gabe Vasquez, and Steve Barnett. The film premiered on March 26, 2021, on Netflix. The film introduces songs of Christian artists such as Michael W. Smith, Amy Grant, and Steven Curtis Chapman to a younger generation with modern renditions of songs like "The Great Adventure", "Dive", "Baby, Baby", and "Place in This World."

Plot

The film starts with Will (Kevin Quinn) running from the police because he stole a cop car. This time his actions have landed him in a situation where he's facing juvenile hall.[3] But as his saving grace, a foster mother Kristin (Sherri Shepherd), with her son George (Jahbril Cook), visits officer Mark (Ed Amatrudo) handling Will's case and Will gets to choose between juvie and a summer camp. Will ends up choosing the camp and from there he starts quite a journey. When he reaches there, a girl named Avery (Bailee Madison) catches his eye. George and Will share a cabin and there Will finds out that George likes a girl named Presley (Kat Conner Sterling). Will makes a deal with George that he’ll help the latter with Presley if George helps him with Avery. At night all the campers attend The Tribunal to compete in the camp’s war games.[4] After the truth about his situation is revealed to Will's friends, Will leaves the camp. Avery drives after him and tries to get him to return without succeeding. He struggles with the thought of there being a loving God after what happened to his family. In the end, Will decides to return to the camp and he and Avery share a moment and a kiss together. When he didn't expect it, he discovers people who care about him.[5]

Cast

Soundtrack

Track listing

!#!Title!Writer(s)!Performer(s)!Length
1"Let's Go Make A MemoryAdam Watts, Alan Powell, Cory ClarkKevin Quinn, Bailee Madison, Jahbril Cook, Kat Conner Sterling, Iain Tucker2:33
2"The Great Adventure"Geoff Moore, Steven Curtis ChapmanKevin Quinn, Bailee Madison, Jahbril Cook, Kat Conner Sterling, Iain Tucker & Sherri Shepherd3:43
3"Good Enough"Adam Watts, Alan Powell, Cory ClarkKevin Quinn, Bailee Madison, Jahbril Cook & Kat Conner Sterling2:47
4"Dive"Steven Curtis ChapmanKevin Quinn, Bailee Madison, Jahbril Cook, Kat Connor Sterling & Iain Tucker3:01
5"Baby, Baby"Amy Grant, Keith ThomasJahbril Cook2:22
6"Place in This World"Amy Grant, Michael W. Smith, Wayne KirkpatrickKevin Quinn & Bailee Madison3:12
7"Big House"Barry Blair, Bob Herdman, Will McGinniss and Mark StuartKevin Quinn, Bailee Madison, Jahbril Cook, Kat Conner Sterling & Iain Tucker3:40
8"Awesome God" / "God Only Knows" (Campfire Medley)Rich Mullins, Joel Smallbone, Jordan Reynolds, Luke Smallbone, Tedd Tjornhom & Josh KerrKevin Quinn, Bailee Madison, Jahbril Cook, Kat Conner Sterling, Iain Tucker2:20
9"Where I Belong"Adam Watts, Andy Dodd & Alan PowellKevin Quinn3:48
10"Best Thing Ever" (Stage Version)Adam Watts, Alan Powell, Cory ClarkKevin Quinn and Cast2:23
11"Best Thing Ever (Reprise)"Adam Watts, Alan Powell, Cory ClarkKevin Quinn, Bailee Madison, Jahbril Cook, Kat Conner Sterling, Iain Tucker1:20
12"Best Thing Ever"Adam Watts, Alan Powell, Cory ClarkJOHNNYSWIM4:04

Notes and References

  1. Web site: A Week Away review – out-of-touch Netflix play for Christian audience. The Guardian. 26 March 2021. 2021-03-26. 2021-03-26. https://web.archive.org/web/20210326070750/https://www.theguardian.com/film/2021/mar/26/a-week-away-review-netflix-christian-musical. live.
  2. Web site: A Week Away review – a below-average musical romance. Ready Steady Cut. 26 March 2021. 2021-03-26. 2021-03-26. https://web.archive.org/web/20210326161436/https://readysteadycut.com/2021/03/26/review-a-week-away-netflix-film/. live.
  3. Jeannie Ortega Law, Netflix to release faith-based musical featuring reimagined versions of CCM hits, christianpost.com, USA, April 30, 2020
  4. Amy Nicholson, ‘A Week Away’ Review: Summer of Salvation, nytimes.com, USA, March 26, 2021
  5. Mia Galuppo, Netflix Lands Faith-Based Musical ‘A Week Away’, hollywoodreporter.com, USA, April 29, 2020
  6. Gospel Music Association, Winners, doveawards.com, USA, retrieved September 5, 2021