Road trips. In movies, they tend to be metaphors for change and personal growth and the majority of the time, the use of “the road trip” is usually cheesy and ham fisted. On occasion, a film comes along that actually makes good use of the metaphor but for the most part, it’s a cause for eye rolling. I’m not quite sure which camp One Week falls into but I’m willing to find out.
Directed by Michael McGowan, One Week stars Vancouver native Joshua Jackson as Ben who, weeks before his wedding, decides to take a motorcycle trip from Toronto to Tofino, stopping at landmarks that are “both iconic and idiosyncratic” on a road trip which, he hopes, will help him find meaning in his life. Same old story, I know but there’s something about the fact that Ben’s trip takes him across Canada that really appeals to me. It seems like such a Canadian thing to do (just look at the number of commercials that make use of road trips: NHL, Tim Hortons, Molson Canadian; it’s a theme man, it’s a theme) and considering I’ve never done it (I’ve seen more of the American coast than of Canada), I’m looking forward to the opportunity to check out some of these “iconic” locales.
If that’s not enough, I’m really looking forward to seeing Joshua Jackson on the big screen again. Though he’s shown up in a number of supporting roles since his days on “Dawson’s Creek”, it was this year’s crummy horror film Shutter which brought him back into the mainstream and though the movie was awful, Jackson was surprisingly good. I’m hopeful that between this new film and “Fringe”, Jackson will make a splash; he’s certainly talented enough to crack the list of hot New Hollywood.
Mongrel will open One Week across Canada on March 6th.
Trailer is tucked under the seat!
I thought it was that he finds out he has a terminal illness and decides to take a road trip with one week left to live, not a wedding movie.
Enough movies are about terminal illness already. Maybe that was how the book was though? At any rate, I’m mildly intrigued here, but this is likely another forgettable spring release… unless, like you said, you’re interested in the whole Canada angle.
But yeah, seeing a potential new star blossom is an interesting prospect.
It’s actually quite a beautiful film, I caught it at TIFF’08. Also, it really captures Canada which is something I always treasure to see.
So Shannon can you clear this up because I didn’t read anything about a terminal illness and the trailer suggests he goes on the road trip because of the upcoming wedding. Which is it?
Isn’t like the first line of the trailer something along the lines of “What is you only had One Week to live?”.
~~~~~mild spoilers~~~~~~
Terminal illness inspires the road trip to someone who is engaged.
More clear?
Ooops. Feeling kinda goofy now. Didn’t pick that up in the trailer.
No worries. It’s quite a gem, I might have to check it again when it hits the regular theatres.
Oh my gosh. This movie looks really good. And it was filmed in Canada!
Which amazes me. I feel kind of like an idiot for asking this… but that’s the ACTUAL Terry Fox Monument, is it not? Because I’m from Thunder Bay (where the monument is) and I heard nothing about this film coming to Thunder Bay. Haha. Looks so good. 
It’s nice to see that they have been strongly promoting this film, I’ve seen numerous trailers and posters. I hope it has a good run when it’s released.
Agreed. It does look like they’re pushing it pretty hard – saw a few advertisements for it while flipping through the channels over the weekend. Not something that happens that often with Canadian films.
There is a website for ONE WEEK. It’s at http://www.oneweek.ca. You can apply for a contest whose prize is a trip to the Rockies!!! Also you can ask the director questions, and he will reply in a video blog. I’m so excited about this film because Josh is an underrated actor and he was so good in Dawson’s Creek. I can’t wait!!
i can’t wait to see this movie, mainly becuz i met joshua jackson while they were filming it in Manitoba and he shot a scene with me in it!! i’m not sure if the scene got cut but i am soo excited to see it and find out. Joshua Jackson was so sweet and had an awesome personality and i really hope my scene is in it. He is eating at a drive by diner called Syls and i’m sitting in the background eating fries! lol. i guess i’ll find out March 6.