One Week (I) (2008) User Reviews

Is Canadian art really enough? Uniquely Canadian yes...entertaining...okay

[Robert_duder · 7/10 · 9 August 2009]

Reviewers and critics that love One Week all say the same thing "a beautiful piece of art", "perfectly Canadian", "the best piece of Canadian film ever made." Some of these reviews are a little over the top in my opinion. The film is absolutely worth seeing, it is touching and emotional and a great adventure in the same vein as perhaps a coming of age movie only for a twenty something man with a terminal illness. Canadians have this habit of immediately embracing and heaping praise on anything that tries to be completely Canadian and if that was the only requirement, One Week would be one of the greatest films ever made, but I review my films based on entertainment, and direction, and the overall style of the movie and not just what it tries to do. One Week will touch you and the story is terrific in a very subtle way. It won't blow your mind or really truly floor you but it's just touching enough to entertain. The perfect movie to relax too that just about any adult can enjoy because of the character involved and if you're Canadian you will no doubt appreciate the Canadian touch.

I have always liked Joshua Jackson, from his Dawson Creek days to some other terrific films he has done since (watch the Horror gem Shutter.) Jackson is absolutely perfect for this role as the suddenly thrust into a life turned upside down by news of his terminal illness. There is something very subtle, emotional and deeply contemplative about his character. He makes the story even more watchable. I hope he gets a really significant break through in his career. His fiancé is played by Liane Balaban. I really am not sure what her character is supposed to be like. From first glance she seems to be a whiny, self involved girl who wants nothing more than to control her suddenly wayward fiancé. You feel very little sympathy for her being that you will connect to Jackson's character so much more. Their chemistry is non existent and she is only there to give Jackson's character something to contemplate and leave. The narration for the story really does carry the plot very well and helps move the story along. The narrator is deep voiced Campbell Scott and does a great job. The supporting cast that he comes across all do a good job but matter very little in the grand scheme of things as no one gets enough screen time nor stands out in any way.

Canadian director Michael McGowan is sure to get a lot of acclaim for his work on this film. The movie is just chock full of all things Canadian including the much talked about "cameo" by the Stanley Cup which Jackson gets to kiss which few ever do unless they win it. Beautiful Canadian landscape and a decent story. But the film gets most of it's weight from that Canadian content and that doesn't necessarily make it the perfect film for everyone. Certainly it will leave a lasting mark on Canadian film and I think any person will enjoy it but don't expect it to really blow you away. The ending is rather abrupt although it's not like you don't see it coming. I just looked for a more moving ending I suppose. Still worth a rent for certain. 7.5/10

Good little film that asks an interesting question

[hbradshaw1 · 8/10 · 13 March 2009]

A well filmed and decently thought out little picture. No, it did not have a lot of the bells and whistles and geegaws of a lot of bigger productions and they could have done a better job with the whole "This Is Canada" thing, but what the hell, did anyone stick around to see the production company and studio information at the end of the end credits? This was not a big-budget Hollywood picture and it did quite well, in my opinion, in spite of all that. I spent a summer in White River and I have a picture somewhere of myself in front of that sign, and remember a good many of the places in the film from two cross country trips when I was a kid. As for all the commentary about the silliness an contrite-ness of Ben's actions throughout the film, we should remember that this is a man who has been given the worst case scenario- terminal illness. Who among us would react rationally? What would we do if we were told we had one week, one month, one year to live? Ben himself gave us his reasons in a nutshell he was, in his words, "over prepared, over insured" what the hell would I do in that exact same situation? Probably exactly what he did, although I wouldn't try to tackle the Rockies on a motorcycle. Maybe a real nice convertible!

Go West, Young Man

[rpvanderlinden · 8/10 · 12 January 2011]

I think that director Michael McGowan really loves his main character, Ben. Ben is beautifully played by Joshua Jackson, a part which requires him to react to a lot of things. Ben seems quiet about most things, but not necessarily content. When told that he has cancer and only a short time to live, he's suddenly a man on the cusp of something. It takes only a silly message under the rim of a Tim Horton's coffee cup - "Go west" - to set him in motion. For the first time in his life, he doesn't just fall back into something familiar and comfortable - he takes action. He rejects, at least for the time being, the virtual death of invasive cancer treatment, and goes on a quest for the life he's never really experienced. And when he runs out of "west", as he's afraid he'll do, he goes even further. The road trip in this movie is the road trip, ever further west, to a destination of the spirit. To others, it seems as if he's running away. But he's not. He's running toward something. When his girlfriend and family try to reel him in to safety, to "us", he resists. In a moment I silently cheered he cries out, in frustration, to his girlfriend: "It's not about us! It's about ME!" That may sound selfish, but it's not. It simply means that there are places where other people cannot go. One thing I liked about this film is its adult take on its subject matter. Although frequently funny, it is also contemplative and suggests that, without being ostentatiously heroic, our actions can inspire others. While I was watching the film I was thinking that if it was about only this and nothing else I would have been satisfied. But a film about a man who doesn't stop while it's still safe - but who goes all the way. That appeals to me on a personal level.

Flawed but charming Canadian road movie meets relationship drama meets

[ametaphysicalshark · 26 March 2009]

"One Week" is a deeply flawed film, but still a charming one which I don't regret seeing. The film is a relationship drama meets disease of the week flick meets Canadian road movie. I went to see the latter and got what I wanted. "One Week" made me want to pack a bag, make perfect road trip playlists, and drive all the way from where I am in Calgary to the Atlantic. There is nothing overstated or over-romanticized about the road trip here. Canada really IS that lovely and that pretty and that charming, and there ARE that many lovely little places to stop at, that many cute diners, that many gorgeous women, that many oddball bikers.

Unfortunately "One Week" employs disastrous omniscient narration and revealing exactly what it is would be a spoiler but it made it even more insufferable. Occasionally really witty but mostly suffering from Dave Eggers syndrome this device really lets down the movie in general. The relationship drama feels incredibly hollow (though not really shallow), but the disease of the week aspect is surprisingly effective. The lead character played by Joshua Jackson is relatively well-drawn, and Jackson is really, really good (didn't think I would be saying that really, even though I've always found him a charming actor), which on its own gives his journey emotional relevance.

One of the things Canadian critics didn't like about the film (which received solid but not especially appreciative reviews, around what it deserved) was what they perceived to be a 'look how great Canada is' mentality. I don't see that in the movie. The movie rests on sentimentality. Occasionally it goes into really sappy territory and that's where its biggest failings lie, but I mean sentimentality in the purest sense: emotional idealism. Of course you'll get the bitter cynics who claim great moments in life don't exist but "One Week" captures that emotion, that mindset quite effectively at some points, then totally veers off track in others.

The movie's dependency on the sentimental quality of the sort of trip Joshua Jackson's character in this film takes means that the trip is going to be presented as memorable and wonderful. My road trips in Canada have been. Sure, there's a couple of dumb TH jokes and one unbelievable line spoken by a German tourist near the end but overall it actually is surprisingly tasteful in this regard: a celebration of Canada but not in an overly ludicrous fashion, and not with quite the same fervor and schmaltz "Passchendaele", the last Canadian film to receive this sort of distribution, featured. The Gord Downie cameo, for instance, could have been a cheesy 'look how Canadian we are' moment but if you had never seen Gord before (which, if you're watching this movie, you probably have, but nevermind) you wouldn't know it was him because it's just another part in the film, one which is very relevant to the journey of the film.

This is a charming film I'm really happy I saw, but its unfortunate flaws keep it from excellence, and some of it is really mediocre. Still recommended for a one-time viewing, and is fairly unique for doing Canada's scenery justice, and beautifully photographed.

Beautiful

[Jithindurden · 6/10 · 20 April 2018]

A beautiful film of self-discovery through a journey throughout Canada. The only problem was the weird narration which is for the most part supposed to be humorous but just kills every moment the film had. Just remove the narration part and we'll get a great film out of this.

Gentle little indie chalk full of Canadiana

[SnoopyStyle · 6/10 · 3 April 2014]

Ben Tyler (Joshua Jackson) has stage-4 cancer and is given 10% chance to live. At most, he has a couple of years left. First thing that occurs to him is that he has an excuse to cancel his wedding to Samantha (Liane Balaban). He decides to buy an old motorcycle despite the disapproval of Samantha. When he rolls up the rim of his Tim Horton cup, it says "Go West Young Man". So he goes west on his bike for a road trip before returning for treatment and eventually his wedding.

I don't particularly like the Campbell Scott narration. I don't mind him as an actor, but his voice by itself is grinding. This is a charming little Canadian movie by Michael McGowan. It does need a bit more quirky to raise the interest. This movie is chalk full of Canadiana. However that is not enough to make this a great movie. It just needs more than what it is... which is a gentle little Canadian travelogue mixed with an emotionally simple story.

Not a masterpiece, but there is something!

[olle-hogrell · 7/10 · 30 March 2019]

This is a rather slow, but important story about the big issues in life, all against the backdrop of scenic, rural landscapes; photo is truly amazing. Ben (Joshua Jackson) is a young teacher with an upcoming wedding. His girlfriend, and wife to be, hates motorcycles; they are too dangerous. In the opening scene, Ben is told by his doctor he has incurable cancer. What is there to do? Shall he cancel the wedding? Should he quit his job? Is there a future? The first thing he does, is to buy motorcycle. Then he sets out on a journey westwards, without timetable or defined destination. It turns out to be an inner journey, in open air and without proper protection, except for the helmet. It also makes one of the best road movies I have ever seen. Ben asks himself: What should a man experience, if there's only one day, one week, or perhaps a year left of life? The film felt too long after 30 minutes. After 60 minutes I wanted it to never end, just like Ben's journey into the unknown west.

Beautiful visually and emotionally

[kingtutthefirst · 10/10 · 3 November 2009]

I thought I'd post a comment on this as most of those commenting appear to be Canadian, and so I thought an alternative viewpoint may be useful.

I first encountered this movie as a trailer somewhere - I can't recall where/when, maybe a flight or similar. I remember thinking "Josh Jackson, haven't seen him in a while" (I hadn't seen any Fringe at that time) and "Lots of nice footage of Canada". And then promptly forgetting about it. A couple of months ago I got the opportunity to finally watch One Week, and I was overwhelmed. The movie has a very simple premise, and an equally simple theme, yet the direction, cinematography, script, acting, and soundtrack all conspire to convey an impressive depth.

The story itself I found powerful, and was drawn along. To be fair, parts of it did have a certain relevance to me, but I think that anyone willing to try to fully emote with the Ben character cannot help but be touched. Josh Jackson gives an excellent performance, producing a believable and likable character with whom you cannot help but empathise.

Initially I was put off by the strange narration, however over time it grew more important in telling the story of Ben Tyler and the characters he meets, and by the end had flourished into a character all of it's own. Furthermore, the narration as well as other characters insert a certain black comedy, largely stopping the storyline from getting boring.

Not being Canadian, I undoubtedly missed many of the 'in' jokes and references; I don't think that this adversely affected my enjoyment one whit.

A significant theme of the movie was that the world (and especially Canada) is a beautiful place, and the direction and cinematography capture this exceptionally. I haven't seen any movies recently which have created as visceral a reaction in myself - I freely admit that I was in tears at times.

Overall, I highly recommend One Week. Try to watch it when you're feeling a little melancholic or down, and with an open mind just to absorb the story and the scenery, and I'll be very surprised if you don't also enjoy it immensely.

Has some notable flaws, but still a very interesting philosophical film with some beautiful landscapes

[Beta_Gallinger · 7/10 · 7 March 2010]

It hasn't been too long since the release of this Canadian movie, written and directed by Michael McGowan and starring Joshua Jackson. Its wide theatrical release in Canada was apparently early last year, after film festival screenings in 2008, but I didn't see it on the big screen, nor did I even hear anything about it during its theatrical run, and I think it was just a few months ago when I started watching it on DVD. I watched the first 45 minutes or so and then stopped, not sure what I thought of it, but that didn't mean I was never going to watch the whole movie. Even though it took me a while to get around to doing so, I've finally watched it all. I was definitely not as impressed with "One Week" as many others have been, but I can't say I didn't like it at all.

Ben Tyler is a Toronto elementary school teacher who is diagnosed with a severe form of cancer. His doctor tells him that it is now in the fourth and final stage, and that he only has a ten percent chance of surviving. If none of the treatments work, Ben will only live a couple more years at maximum! After this diagnosis, he waits until after a big family gathering to tell his fiancée, Samantha Pierce, the bad news. She thinks he should immediately go into treatment, but knowing how slim his chances of survival already are, and how unpleasant the treatment will likely be, he wants to take a vacation first. He leaves Toronto, but it isn't long before he decides to make his way back for treatment. He changes his mind when he meets two Newfoundlanders who are on a bike ride across Canada. Instead of going back home, Ben decides to travel out west on his recently purchased motorcycle. On his trip, as he meets various people and sees various Canadian landmarks, he gradually learns life lessons.

When I first watched some of this film, I remember Campbell Scott's narration kind of put me off. When I watched the entire film months later, his narration wasn't as bad as I had remembered, but it's still deeply flawed, especially at times when he seems to think he's funny, such as the part where he talks about Samantha's hips, and the "…all…night…long" segment. However, the narration isn't always bad, and is sometimes clever and deep. Some parts could have used some rethinking, such as Ben's marriage proposal to Samantha and a woman Ben meets in the prairies finding the man of her dreams after Ben meets her, but fortunately, there aren't too many other scenes like that. There are good dramatic moments and dialogue, the protagonist's experiences and the people he meets on his trip can be interesting, and there's some great scenery in the film from different parts of Canada, including western mountain scenery. To top it off, it's also a film that could make you think about life.

Back in the summer of 2000, I went on a road trip from my home in Southern Ontario to Vancouver Island. There's a lot in this film that reminded me of that trip and what I saw along the way, with the Terry Fox Monument, the Wawa goose sculpture, the prairie land, Dinosaur Provincial Park in Alberta, and finally the mountainous terrain of the west. There's certainly a lot of Canadian symbolism in this movie, not only with the landmarks and such, but also with a soundtrack featuring songs from various artists in the country. Also, Gordon Downie (lead vocalist of The Tragically Hip), Joel Plaskett, and Emm Gryner are all part of the Canadian music scene, and they have parts in this film. I'm sure many viewers in this country could appreciate "One Week", but that doesn't mean it's for Canadians only. For anyone who wants to see a fairly low-key, realistic, philosophical, and sometimes emotional drama with at least some mild humour, this COULD be a film you want to watch.

timeless theme

[foxc-2 · 10/10 · 13 January 2009]

This is a very Canadian movie, not only in the use of the gorgeous cross-country scenery that provides both a backdrop and a reflective commentary on the main character's personal search but also because of it is patently outside the realm of the "regular" Hollywood (i.e. American) fare. This is not to suggest that only Canucks can enjoy or appreciate this wonderful, warm-hearted, evocative, simple story because the plot line and embedded themes are universal and timeless.

There is a leisurely quality to this narrative and a kind of inevitability to the whole story that makes it poignant yet full of strength at the same time. The voice-over done by a sonorously voiced Campbell Scott works so well that far from being intrusive as most add-ons are, it (he) becomes a character in his (its) own right.

This is one of those "festival sleepers" that will never have wide distribution but which will delight and uplift any who see it.

Quiet, beautiful, thoughtful

[k-tmunroe · 7/10 · 30 April 2011]

If you're looking for high drama, this one ain't it. If you're looking for action or violence, ditto. If you want a little something to make you think about what's important in your life, hit play.

When Ben is told he doesn't have long to live, he re-evaluates his life and finds it lacking. His response is to hit the open road by himself. His fiancé calls him selfish which is understandable. But it's something he needs to do.

I understand. I was diagnosed with a blood cancer several years ago. Mine is responding well to treatment, but I still look at life and wonder how to better use the time I have.

The scenery of Canada is gorgeous. I recognized Toronto even though I've been there only once. I'm not sure something like this could have been made in America. We tend to want fast, loud, over the top. Even lots of our indie films are like that. The quiet and slow pace gives the you time to make you want to see Canada, time to reflect on what's going on with Ben, time to hope he finds what he needs to.

Simply Beautiful

[clandry4-1 · 10/10 · 7 March 2009]

One Week is the movie that I've been waiting for my whole life.

Michael McGowan has created a beautiful piece of Canadian art. The style is very reminiscent of great artists like Bruce McDonald and Don McKellar. This film certainly pulled at my heart strings having been to most of the places in this film. As well, Joshua Jackson's performance was stellar.

I feel so lucky that my wife and I had the pleasure of viewing this film on opening night which received quite a reception and was topped off with a standing ovation. I've never clapped at a movie before.

Sincerely, Christopher Landry

Good movie but not Great

[moorek · 7/10 · 9 October 2009]

I looked forward to this movie as I had heard good things about it. I enjoyed it when I saw it but for me it still failed on several key points.

1. Joshua Jackson was not the right actor for the role. Neither he nor the script gave me any sense of the inner turmoil secondary plot of a man searching for something knowing he has a fatal disease. Staring into the sunset isn't insightful. I don't think Jackson has the range for this role.

2. I found it difficult to find any sympathy for Ben. There was nothing in his life so important that I felt he was going to be a loss if he goes. I felt some sympathy for his mother but even then it was fleeting. And his silly helmet and goggles made him seem more like a big goof on a trip than a man seeking an understanding for what is happening to him.

3. There is no chemistry between Jackson and Balaban. While this is a minor subplot later in the movie, since it's not there from the start then the audience has no commitment to the fact that Jackson is taking this trip away from her. I was more concerned about the students he left behind to take this trip and we never got to see any of them.

4. Yes it's a nice trip across Canada but it's so stereotypical. A Canadian version of Michael or Weird Al's Biggest Ball of Twine in Minnesota. There is so much to Canada and you can be as stereotypical as you want without having to do the tourist stops. For me the single best element in the movie is the horse ride out into the prairie. It's away from tourist area and into the core of Canada. (Too bad it wasn't filmed in SK where it was supposed to take place. Although to be honest there are areas just like that in SK.) If the film hadn't been shot on a shoestring and so rushed then Ben could have visited truly amazing locations such as the Ouimet Canyon, Thunder Bay or Whiteshell Petroforms in MB or Grasslands National Park in SK. If I had a week to live (or a week to take a trip)I'd be going to lovely and amazing locations - not to the Sudbury nickle or the WaWa geese.

4. Besides the poor locations shots, the weather made you feel this was being shot on a rushed schedule. If nothing else the lack of variety of weather was odd. It was like they were following a weather front which would not have been reflective of a trip from Toronto to the Pacific Coast. It always seemed wet and cold. If you wanted to do a Canadian road trip then you'd have shown climate more reflective of the areas Ben was driving through.

5. And oddly Ben never learns to accommodate. While he is spending the night in rented accommodation, since he has rain almost every day, he never buys rain gear. Never buys gloves although he blows on his hands often enough. Regardless of thinking of his own mortality, he would have stopped and at least bought gloves.

So I liked the movie and when it's remade in 15 years time, it will be a far better version.

Utter trash

[sharkovski · 2/10 · 28 March 2016]

A Canadian man discovers he has cancer. He buys a motorbike and goes to Tim Hortons to buy a cup of coffee. He rolls up the rim that tells him "Go West" - so he heads West. You start with a cliché and it doesn't stop there.

Bike trip. Lots of open road, nature, etc. Postcard as a film. A tourism promo masquerading as a film.

Meets a random stranger who also had cancer. What are the chances? Lots of Canada clichés. Meets some kids who ask him (of all people) where's the nearest Canadian Tire.

Meets a cowgirl and goes horseback riding. Meets a girl and they have a moment by a campfire, singing French Canadian songs(!!).

Random animals. Random forest stuff. He falls asleep and is awoken by a Native American drumming ritual. Token wise old native man? Check.

So we've included nature, Quebec (folk song), Natives, nature, sunsets, cowgirls, forests, animals, nature, Tim Hortons, what's left? Swims in a lake. Oh, random German tourist couple tell him that Canada is beautiful.

Oh, and he goes on a hockey rink and kisses the Stanley Cup.

When people think Canada is an uninhabited country, just one large forest with a micro-population that's just enough to man the Tim Hortons outlets at truck stops, can you blame them? It's a postcard, not a film. It was one Blackberry and a maple syrup donut away from being a total joke.

It's fake depth. There was nothing deep about the man or his experience.

If someone made a Swedish film about a man who travels Sweden, stops at an IKEA, listens to ABBA, stops somewhere for meatballs, everyone would laugh. But that's exactly what this film is.

There's more to Canada than forests. It's sad that Canadians don't want to show the world the real Canada.

This is a sorry excuse for a film. It's an Instagram feed, a series of Vines with a loose narrative and a weak soundtrack. Fake depth, shallow emotions, sepia filters, lens flare and photos of sunsets, desperate and needy, asking for likes, shares and retweets.

Solid performances, breathtaking cinematography, insipid music

[skysaxon · 26 February 2011]

This is a quintessential Canadian flick. It is truly breathtaking in its capture of a huge, inscrutable country. The acting and direction are austere and understated. The characters are underscored and very real. The story is muted and unpretentious. But altogether it works some kind of magic.

But this a Canadian film. With that comes the weepy, folky, trite music that underscores the film. Canada has a history of producing some of the saddest-eyed, wimpy singer-songwriters of all time. This film manages to cram the sobbiest, sad-sack folksters of all time into almost every frame. (It's no wonder most of Canada's rockers move away.) You'd have thought an uplifting tale of self-discovery would warrant equally uplifting music to buoy the tale, but no. It's just too Canadian.

If you can ignore the crappy music, this movie will move you.

Good to have a movie talking about life in a subtle way

[yeung-benny · 7/10 · 25 July 2010]

This is the first time I watched this kind of movie. The kind that talks about people dying and how they deal with it.

The thing I like about this movie is that One Week did not try to tell you what exactly it is to be a dying person. It is just a trip. No hardselling of life lectures. And no particular life changing moment happened, which is good. In my view all those events during this trip of Ben's are all possible. So it really gives me a feeling that how a trip to search for something you don't even know would be like.

The mood of this movie is alright. It isn't that heavy. So do try this on if you were reluctant to this type of movies before.

An overall good film and a good act!

[bure98 · 7/10 · 1 July 2009]

I've seen very few performances by Joshua Jackson, namely only a few of a partial episode of him in Dawson's Creek and him as a child/teenager in "The Mighty Ducks the movie(?)" But I thought the acting by all in the film was overall very good, if not excellent. The scenery and the shots were beautiful. Great shots of the Canadian landscape. And great little humors here and there about us Canadians! I thought the reference to Tim Horton's is very cool! I have seen many films with references to the Star Bucks franchise but not many to the Timmy's! All the characters were very well played, from the small parts like Gord Downie's biker and the guitar player on the street to the bigger parts like Lianne Balaban's and Joshua Jackson's. Overall, a good film, with good acting, very nice backdrops, and great background music! I do agree with one reviewer though in its lack of coherence between the stock footage and the narrative at times. But how many has gone out to do a low-budget film like this across our country?! And yes, it did miss everything east of Toronto. But hey I'm sure they'd do better if they had a bigger budget! Overall definitely a film I would recommend!

too dark & deep

[shwan-348-526669 · 7/10 · 29 April 2014]

what can i say? the film was too dark for my taste, I think you need to be at the right frame of my mind to enjoy all deep emotions and philosophy behind. for most of us living this stressful life, I doubt there will be much good time to watch such a movie, no wonder why financially it flopped grossing less than half a million form the $2m budget. the film itself, was a well done movie, great scenery combined with great acting from all especially Joshua Jackson who I think was the finest actor from the cast of "Dawson's Creek".. I love the ending of the movie, it felt just perfect. my only advice for people wanting to watch it, if you are stressed and unhappy, please save it for another time.

Pure Canadian Gem

[Tiedyedaisy · 9/10 · 8 March 2009]

In my opinion, One Week is one of the best Canadian films to date. I enjoyed it even more than Men with Brooms (which is saying a lot).

I loved taking the journey with Ben. The narrator adds a bit more depth to the plot, as we find how Ben touches various lives along the way. The beautiful scenery (which as a Canadian I take for granted) is visually stunning.

Ben's story in itself is both sad and heart-warming. For those weary of a sad ending, don't be - You will leave the theatre happy and inspired.

I will gladly recommend this movie to all my fellow Canucks and anyone else in the world.

Bland Road movie

[Samiam3 · 6/10 · 10 July 2017]

Undergoing some girl trouble, Joshua Jackson hops on his bike for a cross country trip through Canada. A friend once told me that this is a trip that everyone should do once in their life, to make you realize how big the world actually is. This low budget, 90 minute, comedy drama fails to convey such a feeling of grandeur. It not actually a bad movie, just a bland one.

It is bland not just narratively but visually. The sky is always cloudy, and the sights are relatively mundane; sometimes even tacky. The camera is turned less towards scenery and more toward the kind giant beaver statues and wax tomem poles next to a road side diner. Jackson gives a one note performance with no motivation. Liane Balaban, as the humble abandoned girlfriend does a better job earning empathy. She seems far more lost that he does. The few emotional moments in the film feel authentic, but the odds attempts at humour fall flat.

Jackson reaches the pacific ocean that the end of his journey, and gets to Kayak in the brief company of a whale. Moments like this might have made the trip worthwhile if there were more of them. Instead the overall experience is too mellow and unremarkable.

Beautiful

[arsenico71 · 9/10 · 17 May 2011]

This is what I call a real gem. I have just finished watching this movie, and I'm still thinking so deeply about it. I'm a travel fanatic, what would I do if I were to find out what Ben finds out about his health and destiny? Probably just the same.

It's impossible not to think about "Into the wild" when watching this movie and make a comparison. Both film are great, in different ways though, this one is probably more into introspection, the story is more "pruned" when compared to the American movie, the characters met by the main man are different, calmer, probably less American.

I loved everything about this film: the landscapes, the message, the characters (Sam is a good and kind hearted girl which deserves better in her life, the families are described as warm and loving), the literary quotations, the music, everything.

A gem really not to be missed. And Canada, wait for me, I'll be travelling there some time in the future!

Sentimental, Slightly Morbid but also kinda Feel-Good story

[Jerominator · 6/10 · 10 April 2013]

### Couple of spoilers here so watch out if you're going to see it ### This film follows a young man's journey across his homeland of Canada after he receives some bad news. He decides to escape for one week of freedom before facing the music, much to the consternation of his fiancée and family.

Over the course of the journey he meets some people, sees some sights, and reflects on his life, and his relationships with his fiancée/family. The whole thing is intermittently narrated by an unrelated third person, who talks you through flashbacks of the main protagonist's life, and provides other helpful trivia about him & the places he's visiting. Now I read that some people were annoyed by the narration. Got to say it didn't annoy me at all - felt it added a lot to it actually - some very interesting facts, and some fun stuff. Without all that I think it would have been a bit dry actually. In fact I'd go as far to say it's a clever mechanism for connecting you more with the main character.

As you might expect, you get some nice shots of the Canadian countryside, though I felt that could've been exploited to better effect with the right shots.

Everyone's different but I personally found it really hard to imagine an engaged guy in his predicament trying to hop in the sack with every woman he sees. Didn't sit right with me, unless the guy's a total slimeball which this character doesn't seem to be in every other respect. Just goes to reinforce the annoying Hollywood myth that any guy will try to do that with any girl he meets, regardless of whether he's married, in a relationship etc. Hey maybe there's some guys like that but I really don't think most are. Anyway I'm not so I don't care for the stereotype and it killed the movie a little for me.

All in all, it's a relaxed, no brainer, kinda feel-good film ... yet tinged with an upsetting issue throughout. That said, it handles said upsetting issue in about as non-depressing fashion as possible. Not overly sentimental either. It doesn't try to be anything clever, just tells the story, which is a bold and welcome move these days. The main actors are pretty good, the cinematography's decent enough, and there's some cool music along the way. Oh and I thought the ending was a nice touch.

How to classify this film? - sort of like Straight Story meets Dying Young(which I literally just found out starred the narrator of this film - knew I recognised that voice from somewhere!).

TIFF Premiere

[jen_2003_14 · 8/10 · 9 September 2008]

I had the privilege of being in the audience for the premiere screening of One Week last night in Toronto. As with many Canadian films, the lack of an appreciative audience was evident by many empty seats in Roy Thompson Hall. However, for those of us who were in attendance, we were treated to an incredibly funny (in a tragic way typical of many Canadian films) and touching film. Joshua Jackson (notably absent from the premiere), showed a great range and presented a complex, well-developed character. The scenery was beautiful and there were many Canadian touches to the film - the audience in particular seemed to enjoy the references to Tim Horton's and Canadian Tire. However, the story has a universal theme and will hopefully go on to be enjoyed by a wider audience from around the world.

An OK film, that will be treated like a masterpiece

[rgcustomer · 7/10 · 4 January 2010]

When I saw that the usual suspects (movie channels, tax credits) funded this film, I clenched my teeth, and braced myself for an hour and a half of mind-numbing insanity.

However, I was pleasantly surprised. Not Avatar surprised, mind you. But just surprised that this bunch funded an OK film. They do that on occasion. It's just that it's so rare, it kind of hits you in the head when it happens. Nevertheless, I'm still waiting for something I can rate a 9 or 10. Canada deserves that, when you consider all the dollars they throw at filmmakers around here.

A lot of what makes this film great are the landscapes. Canada is so rarely depicted so well in film, outside of geographical documentaries, or HDTV advertising packages. It's difficult to take a bad landscape picture in Canada. It is this reason alone that is going to catapult this film to the top of many Canadians' best film lists, though it doesn't really deserve to be there if you're being honest about the plot and characters.

One thing that bothered me was the narration. Some parts were funny, but mostly it was just annoying, and revealing the narrator at the end was supremely sappy (and not in a maple way). The Lola rennt (1998)-like summaries of minor character's lives was badly done as well. Sometimes people have unintended bad effects on others. Lola was honest about that. Ben isn't.

But I did like the general story of a man seeking adventure after learning he's going to have a much shorter life than he thought. It seemed realistic to me, and the right mood was set, and so I gave this film a 7/10. The film kept me interested in Ben's journey through the entire time.

What I didn't like about Ben was his selfish relationship with his weak-willed fiancée. I'd love to see a sequel where she and some of her friends stop putting up with Ben's crap, and drive across the Eastern half of Canada in a convertible for an adventure of their own. (Not kidding... I want to see this).

And what is a grumps? I grew up here, and I never heard of it.

A love poem gone wrong

[tyler-irving · 3/10 · 15 March 2009]

At a special screening in Toronto, director Mike McGowan claimed that this movie was meant, at least in part, to be "a love poem to Canada." It's a noble idea, and one which has not received that much treatment in film. Certainly the trailer promised everything one could want in a film about this great country; majestic landscapes, a killer soundtrack, giant tacky roadside attractions, Gord Downie, Joel Plaskett, even the Stanley Cup! So it's truly a shame that One Week more or less fails to achieve coherence as a film.

The main problem with this film the weak script. McGowan can't seem to decide whether he's making a lighthearted, fun movie about a romp across Canada or a serious drama about how people react to news of a terminal illness. In the end, he achieves neither, and we're left wondering what the point was. Moreover, several key episodes seem to drop out of nowhere, requiring a little too much suspension of disbelief on the part of the audience.

I also had a great deal of difficulty sympathizing with the characters. The protagonist, dissatisfied with the life he has built for himself, heads out on a journey of discovery, but he doesn't seem to know exactly what he wants to find, and we're never really sure if he's found it. He's rebellious enough to treat those that love him with disdain, but not so much so that he ever seems to fully "embrace randomness" as he claims to want to do. Joshua Jackson spends almost the entire movie wearing the exact same expression of tepid annoyance, and while the ever-present narrator does his best to explain what's going on inside Ben's head, his actions don't seem to match.

Even the trip itself is flawed, moving as it does from Toronto to Tofino and ignoring eastern Canada completely. Perhaps McGowan felt that the movie's credibility was stretched thin enough as it was, but he couldn't resist throwing in a couple of stereotypical Newfoundlanders and a Quebecois folk song to cover his bases. Somehow, I suspect that viewers in St. John's, Montreal, and Halifax will not take the bait.

Canada is a country composed of many vibrant and unique communities separated by vast empty expanses. However, we share a common narrative that holds us together as a country. This common narrative is exactly what this movie is missing, and why, despite some enjoyable moments, it falls apart in the end.