The Tao of Steve

Written by: Greer Goodman, Jenniphr Goodman, Duncan North Starring: Donal Logue, Greer Goodman, Kimo Wills, Ayelet Kaznelson, Nina Jaroslaw

A low budget charmer of the first order, “The Tao of Steve” takes a fresh look at relationships between men and women, and for once, it doesn’t seem like you have heard it all before. The film focuses on Dex (Logue), a thirtyish man who, ten years ago, was the smartest guy in his college class, as well as a world class Casanova. Since graduating, he has settled into a semi-slacker routine in Santa Fe, teaching kindergarten and sharing a house with four buddies. He has also become--not to put too fine a point on it--fat. The surprise is that, despite the extra weight, he has not lost his skill as a seducer of women. Even women who think they can spot a come-on from a mile away fall for this most unlikely looking Don Juan.

As written by director Jenniphr (and no, that’s not a typo) Goodman, along with her sister Greer (who also stars), and Duncan North (upon whose life the movie is apparently based), the movie explores the philosophy by which Dex lives and loves, the philosophy that Dex and his pals have dubbed “The Tao of Steve.” Named principally after the ultimate cool guy Steve McQueen (though other cool Steve’s are mentioned as well), the Tao is derived from the teachings of Lao-tzu, Heidegger, and a bunch of other philosophers, as filtered through Dex’s unique prism. The Tao provides a series of rules about how to live, and, more specifically, how to be successful with women. Dex and his friends spend their time trying to achieve total “Steve-ness” (and avoid being a “Stu,” which is the exact opposite of cool). Dex is something of a guru of the Tao, and generously instructs the younger Dave (Wills) in its finer points. “The Tao of Steve” is neither silly nor sexist; the script is too smart to fall back on cheap jokes (although they do get a bit of hilarious mileage out of a friendly Golden Retriever eating aerosol whipped cream) or stereotypes.

Dex is neither evil nor malicious; he simply behaves in accordance with what he views as his own well thought out philosophy. And he really is smart, too smart for his own good, probably, but definitely smart enough to know his limitations, both physically and as a person. (The idea of using the Tao to seduce women may offend the PC crowd, but it is hard to argue with its fundamental principle: treat a woman as a person first.) Dex thinks he has it all figured out, but then into his perfect world comes Syd (the charismatic Goodman), a woman who arouses in Dex feelings that all the Steve’s in the world can’t help him sort out. In Syd, Dex has met his match, and what happens between them is the centerpiece of the movie. From the opening moments, “The Tao of Steve” feels as comfortable and relaxed as old sweater (which, in a summer full of spectacles that seem to want to cram themselves down your throat, is a relief).

But Goodman does not allow the film to wander, and she never lets individual scenes drag on too long. Her touch with the actors is equally good. The characters all seem real; they seem like people we might actually know (in fact, we probably do know people like them), lending the picture an air of intimacy, as though we were looking in on real lives. The film also benefits from its arid, lovely New Mexico landscapes, as well as a soundtrack that is at once tuneful and discreet. The film is full of smart (which is not to say smarty-pants) dialogue (at one point, Dex says to Syd, “Am I supposed to remain celibate while I bask in the warm glow of your annihilating contempt?”) that nevertheless seems like things people (well, Dex, anyway) might actually say. It would have been nice if the picture could have maintained this edge throughout. While the first and most engaging half of the film has a distinct and provocative point of view, the second half turns towards more predictable romantic comedy conventions. As cheering (and at some level satisfying) as this may be, some part of me wished the filmmakers had trusted in the Tao enough to let it guide the film all the way, that they had had the strength of Dex’s convictions. What if turned out that Dex were right about everything? “The Tao of Steve” puts a nice twist on the romantic comedy genre, but to posit that true love isn’t always the answer would have been the neatest twist of all. (8/9/2000)