The Tao of Steve (2000)

In his college days Dex (Donal Logue) was a slim, cool, smooth-talking ladies' man. A decade later he's an overweight, underachieving kindergarten teacher, but he's honed his pick-up technique into a way of life--a mix of zen, tough-guy cool, and college philosophy he and his buddies call "the Tao of Steve," named after the manly triad of Steve Austin (a.k.a. the Six Million Dollar Man), Steve McGarrett (Jack Lord's unflappable cop on Hawaii Five-0), and the king of all Steves: Steve McQueen. Santa Fe is populated with his one-night stands, but then he runs into Syd (Greer Goodman), a smart, sexy old classmate with an arsenal of sharp retorts, at a college reunion.

This American indie take on the slacker lothario falls into the old familiar story: eternally adolescent man meets grown-up woman and is forced to face up to a life in which he has never taken an emotional risk or a life-changing plunge. Logue's easy charm and low-key confidence makes Dex an easy guy to like, and director Jenniphr Goodman (who cowrote the script with Greer, her sister and star of the film) invests his lifestyle of leisure (mostly guys chatting about girls and trading pop culture references) with an offhanded naturalness. But neither is she oblivious to the holding pattern his life has taken. Sure, there's an inevitability to this shaggy romance, but there's an undeniable pleasure in seeing the change in the landscape of a familiar road. --Sean Axmaker Amazon.com

romantic and quirky

This movie is what I consider "one of my friends", one I watch or have playing in the background often. It is quirky and romantic. It is just the type of movie graduates of St. John's College would make, you'll have to look into that college to see what I mean. One of its two campuses is in Santa Fe, NM. The landscape of Santa Fe is a character in the movie, it is beautiful. Much of the movie has the characters outdoors and you feel like you are there. March 16, 2008

Funny!

This movie is about 'Steves', a 30-something overweight ladie's man who can talk any woman into having relations with him by using "The Dao of Steve." Unfortunately, the Dao isn't working for the only woman that steve really wants.

The Dao of Steve is a fun movie with characters that one can relate to.

January 22, 2008

Steve of Tao...

Classic slacker film with a lovable anti-hero... the still drinkin' still smokin' college n'er do well who refuses to grow up... thus not becoming a totally lame robot, but also avoiding his own personal growth and emotional development at all costs... throw in a love interest and it's all bound to come 'round sooner or later... A nice, feel good film, which rolls by pleasantly enough, has a bit of humour, and a touch of deep philosophy. I liked it... To Cook is Divine, Italian, Filipino, and Southern-style Vegetarian Recipes from Outside the Box November 18, 2007

Dao of please!

I'm named Steve, so even with that vested interest in this movie being cool, I cannot honestly say it is. It has a neat premise, an overweight guy who has figured out how to sleaze his way into bed with unsuspecting women, who also has a part time job with kids and a marujana problem, finally gets his when an old fling causes him to do a double take and rethink his life. While they were filming though, the director was struck by lightning (judging soley by the film) mid-scene and was subsequently replaces by a sack of bananas. The bananas then saw fit to open a dictionary and a book of quotations from the worlds great philosophers and complete the movie based on random picks out of the two. All kidding aside, the movie is only sort of funny, with no laugh out loud scenes to speak of, and only a few that make the movie watchable. It's your call. July 14, 2007

Sadly, I am a Stew

How many times have I seen this movie? Somewhere between 25-50 viewings, with an additional "who knows how many" occurrences wherein I starting watching this movie with the explicit intent of falling asleep to it's indie soundtrack.

I was turned on to this movie in the very same way I have discovered most of my favorite films. It's late night, I'm flipping channels, or to be completely honest, I was browsing the DirecTV guide. Most people, including me, still say flipping channels, like we actually take the time to go through all the channels, but we all know damn well that we just cruise through the guide to find something to watch. I guess I'll have to start saying "scrolling the guide" instead. Anyway, I'm getting sidetracked and I apologize.

Like I said, I was "scrolling" through the guide looking for something comfortable and familiar that wouldn't challenge me too much, and I failed. I had to use that damn "info" button when I saw the title, "Tao Of Steve", so I guess I let my curiosity get the best of me. Thank Science it did.

As is my custom, I normally catch these late night gems at some point in the middle of the movie, and I spend the rest of the movie struggling with the decision to either finish what is shaping up to be a great movie that I missed the beginning of, or jot down the title and catch it from the start the next time it comes on. I decided to watch the rest of it, and then just buy a copy on DVD. Does that tell you how engaging and entertaining this movie is?

First off, I have a lot of respect for Donal Logue as an actor. He's done a wide variety of roles in several different kinds of media vehicles, from TV to blockbuster movies, and of course, the classic Jimmie the cab driver shorts on MTV. He was spot on in this role, he has that charisma and confidence to be able to convince you he has what it takes to bed down with any human being sporting an XX chromosomal set, unless they are wearing Doc Marten's and a flannel shirt. What can I say, he's a funny actor, and I suppose he's a fave of mine, because I have liked him even in the bad stuff he's been a part of in the past.

Supporting cast was full of friends and local actors from the NM area, and while there aren't any household names in the bunch, they more than hold their own in delivering believable characters who are just what they are supposed to be, regular Joes and Janes. I have already mentioned that the soundtrack was indie, and while I am not an authority on indie music, I can recognize it. I can't say whether it was great, good, or bad, but I liked it. I also liked that the band featured live in the reunion scene was from Oklahoma, my home state.

The most striking thing about this movie for me was it's beautiful photography and wonderful selection of locations. Although it was been a while since I watched the commentary, I am fairly certain it was filmed entirely in the Taos, New Mexico area, or maybe it was Albuquerque. If you've never been to NM, then GO now, it is awesomely beautiful and full of tons of stuff to do. It definitely scores some cultural points with me, as I am a big fan of the American West. The colors of the landscape truly come through the lens with full strength, and I just love the way this movie looks. I can't help but feel that the physical environment is an important ingredient in the "Tao of Steve", which is a real thing conjured up by a real man. In fact, the house where Dex lives is the actual house of the real life person who Dex is based upon. He makes a cameo during one of the poker scenes, and on the commentary he provides some interesting insight into the movie, the character Dex, and of course the "Tao of Steve".

The plot is actually the only weak part of the movie, as a story, it's predictable, but I think that's okay because I found it more interesting to delve into unanswerable questions concerning the characters, and of course, as a hopelessly single young man who has never been able to get the ladies, I spent much time asking myself, "will this really work in real life, .....my life?" Well, according to Duncan North, the aforementioned inspiration for Dex, it does work, and he's living proof. So stop listening to Professor Tom Leykis you bitter bastard, and start watching the, "Tao of Steve". It has all the lessons you need.



THEKEETH, (who is shockingly, still unsuccessful with the ladies)
April 26, 2007

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