filmcritic.com presents a review from staff member Robert Marley. You can find the review with full credits at http://www.filmcritic.com/misc/emporium.nsf/2a460f93626cd4678625624c007f2b46/4d264cdb1503bdbc8825690f0078dfe7?OpenDocument
The Tao of Steve A film review by Robert Marley- Copyright © 2000 filmcritic.com
Director: Jenniphr Goodman Producer: Anthony Bergman Screenwriter: Greer Goodman, Jenniphr Goodman and Duncan North Stars: Donal Logue, Greer Goodman, Kimo Willis, Ayelet Kaznelson, David Allen Baker, Nina Jaroslaw MPAA Rating: R Year of Release: 2000
The word "Tao" has many meanings, one of which is, "The art or skill of doing something in harmony with the essential nature of the thing."
The Tao of Steve is a story is about a guy named Dex (Donal Logue), an unlikely hero living in Santa Fe who has grafted this ancient Chinese philosophy with the super-cool personalities of guys like Steve McQueen, Steve McGarret, and Steve Austin (though not "Stone Cold"). This mutation of philosophies has become a foolproof theory on dating that Dex and his buddies refer to as "The Tao of Steve". In other words, it's the art of scoring with women while being in harmony with the essential nature of all things cool.
Back in his college days, Dex was the big man on campus. The consummate "player," his conquests in the realm of the opposite sex were the stuff of legends - at least back then. But ten years and about a hundred pounds later, Dex has become sort of the inside joke at his college reunion. While trying to pick up a young bartender at the reunion, he spots a woman named Syd (Greer Goodman) - a motorcycle-riding beauty who seems immune to Dex's magical powers of the Tao. Through a series of circumstances, Syd and Dex are thrown together, and he soon finds himself questioning his belief in all things Steve, even as he continues to be the ultimate Steve guru.
Donal Logue, best known as the "naughty vampire god" sidekick in the movie Blade, received the Special Jury Award at the 2000 Sundance Film Festival for his performance as this once-legendary, now-pathetic Casanova. His portrayal -- based loosely on the personality of co-writer Duncan North -- was funny, believable and very well-done. The film is filled with a cast of first-timers and Greer Goodman -- also making her film debut -- does a good job of both co-writing and acting in this fun little romantic comedy. Shooting in New Mexico didn't hurt this picture either, and the locations used are impressive and filled with color, which help to create a sense of liveliness within the film.
The Tao of Steve is a funny, insightful little romp through a philosophy that most people can associate with, eventually settling into a basic love story. And while Jenniphr Goodman's (not a typo) direction is pretty basic, it doesn't distract from this being a very entertaining movie. God bless the independent filmmaker who is free to make a film not based around demographics or seasonal box office appeal, but on the value of the story being told. This is the way cinema was intended.
4 stars
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