The poignant comedy Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks features a heartfelt acting performance by Gena Rowlands. The consummate actress, Rowlands’ performance here while a bit daring, comes off the screen with a measures of both bold and compassionate. It’s her kind of film and she plays it well. Even though the direction’s a little rushed and uneven, support actors save the depiction of this very good script.

Strong willed and outspoken Lily (Gena Rowlands) decides to take some dance lessons in her penthouse overlooking Clearwater Beach. Lily’s interest in dance while ordinary for her age, really stems on getting close to a young partner. On this day Italian stud Michael Minetti (Cheyenne Jackson) arrives at Lily’s apartment to give his first dance lesson. A tall dark and handsome ‘jerk’, Michael’s just in it for the money. He treats Lily as a ‘customer’ rather than a client he’s expected to cultivate beyond the six lessons. Taking flippant command of their appointment and uttering some off color absurdities, Lily tries to get out of the lesson by just paying him off. Michael tries to smooth things over when he realizes that he’ll probably lose his job if she reports him. So begins a love hate relationship between two opposites.

Cheyenne Jackson and Gena Rowlands in Six Dance Lessons In Six Weeks

The movie continues at a nice pace introducing other characters that affect the building relationship between Lily and Michael. Director Arthur Allan Seidelman works his characters into a dither showing each of Lily and Michael’s phobic shortcomings. It’s a story of regrets and searching for understanding about the present and future. The script inserts many obvious circumstances in order to keep the two at odds with each other, and this is where Seidelman falls short. It’s very difficult for a director to add a predictable into a story without making it apparent he’s done so. Unfortunately he misses this mark on more than one occasion and even though the situations are funny the first time, the repetition gets bothersome.

Gena Rowlands as Lily in Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks

Considering Rowlands’ long career dating back to the mid 1950’s, she still has a lot of screen presence. She makes Lily her own as if she is playing herself for the very first time. She’s endearing and mystifying to watch as she moves throughout the film with a masterful show of elder reverence. There are times when she looks like she can’t go on with the role, but she picks herself up showing the ability that made her acting career a legend. It’s a precious performance and a memorable one.

The film also features support roles by Rita Moreno as Ida Barksdale her downstairs neighbor, Jacki Weaver as Irene Mossbecker one of Michael’s sex craved clients, Julian Sands as Winslow Cunard the owner of the dance studio, Kathleen Rose Perkins as Susie the dance studio assignment manager and Simon Miller as Robert, Michael’s love interest.

The movie was filmed in Tampa, St. Petersburg and Clearwater Beach, Florida and the cinematography does is justice. Living in the area, Clearwater is one of my favorite beaches for sun and fun. The pristine white sugar sands and the sunsets are a metaphor within this movie. As for Lily it’s the twilight of her life focusing on the sun disappearing into the sea, and for Michael the beach becomes a place to find that certain someone.

Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks has not been rated by the MPAA but contains rude language and sexual inferences. The film is an adaptation of the stage play with the same title written by Richard Alfieri. Be cautious when deciding to allow immature children see the film as it does have some scenes that are inappropriate for adolescents.
FINAL ANALYSIS: A nice little comedy for older adults. (B)

Additional Film Information:
Cast: Gena Rowlands, Cheyenne Jackson, Rita Moreno, Jacki Weaver, Julian Sands, Kathleen Rose, Anthony Zerbe and Simon Miller
Directed by: Arthur Allan Seidelman
Genre: Comedy, light drama
MPAA Rating: Not Rated, language
Running Time: 1 hr. 47 min
Release Date: February 27, 2015
Distributed by: Docular Entertainment