Dudley Moore is Patrick Dalton, a California politician currently running for a Congressional seat who believes "using humor is a disarming mechanism." He is trying to find the address of a fundraising event and gets help from a young, charming 12-year-old girl named Nicole (Katharine Healy). Dalton is so taken with her that he invites her to the fundraiser. Eventually Dalton runs in to Nicole's mother, Charlotte (Mary Tyler Moore), a rich cosmetics tycoon who is skeptical of politicians. Naturally Dalton hopes Charlotte will contribute to his campaign and she concedes, as long as he spends time with Nicole. Never mind the fact that Dalton has his own family to take care - Nicole has leukemia and only six weeks to live.
Most of "Six Weeks" is centered on Nicole's sweet demeanor and healthy optimism - she knows she will pass on soon enough but it doesn't mean she still can't fulfill a dream of dancing on the stage at the current Lincoln Center revival of "The Nutcracker." Nor does it mean she can't canvass calls at Dalton's campaign office. Nicole also senses the love developing between Dalton and Charlotte, which largely remains unconsummated. It is all those character details that brim to the surface of "Six Weeks" and makes us care for these people. Never once did I feel manipulated by the material because director Tony Bill ("My Bodyguard") establishes sensitivity without sensationalizing - it is the opposite approach that some lesser director and writer might have taken.
If there is an issue with "Six Weeks," well, it is a very glaring issue - it has to do with Dalton's family life. Dalton has his own family and his wife (thankless role by Shannon Wilcox) is unsure of the time he has taken to care for this other family. I think I would have liked a little more depth in that area because the wife feels neglected and Dalton's response is to lie to her about his feelings for Charlotte. Either change Dalton's marital status to single and abandon this subplot or give it more weight.
Still, "Six Weeks" will stay with me. I might have caught it on cable back in the 1980's and I do recall Katharine Healy's performance. She has that savory smile that could melt anyone's heart. Even a mock wedding for Dalton and Charlotte by Nicole felt more emotionally true than schmaltzy. Dudley Moore has charm in all the right places, and Mary Tyler Moore does her best to keep her emotions somewhat reserved until the inevitable, tear-inducing climax. My heart melted with this movie, that is all I can say.
