The Tao of Steve

2000 "Why do women find this man irresistible?"
6.7| 1h27m| R| en
Details

Underachieving, overweight kindergarten teacher Dex finds a woman who forces him to reexamine his Zen-like system of seduction.

Director

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Good Machine

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Trailers & Clips

Also starring John Harrington Bland

Also starring Mercedes Herrero

Reviews

Kattiera Nana I think this is a new genre that they're all sort of working their way through it and haven't got all the kinks worked out yet but it's a genre that works for me.
Freeman This film is so real. It treats its characters with so much care and sensitivity.
Skyler Great movie. Not sure what people expected but I found it highly entertaining.
Staci Frederick Blistering performances.
Turfseer Prior to writing and filming 'The Tao of Steve', director Jenniphr Goodman returned to her childhood home in Santa Fe with her husband after graduating from NYU Film School. There she also lived with one Duncan North, a kindergarten teacher the film is based on. Goodman could not believe how North was able to seduce so many women, given the fact that he was overweight and did not fit the mold of a typical Lothario. She decided to create 'The Tao of Steve' based on North's life, including how he utilized Taoist philosophy and combined it with American pop culture's embrace of a trinity of 'machismo' TV characters including Steve Austin (The Six Million Dollar Man), Steve McGarrett (Hawaii Five-O) and, above all, the ultimate 'bad boy' actor, Steve McQueen.Duncan North is dubbed 'Dex' in the film and is played by Donal Logue, an Irish actor who gained significant weight for the role. Logue is perfectly cast as the unlikely seducer of women and the philosophy his character imparts, is a textbook method for being successful with women. The best part of the film involves how he attempts to coach one of his slacker buddies, Dave, who is completely inept when it comes to finding a girlfriend. Dave believes that if he's simply a 'nice guy', women will be immediately drawn to him. Dex makes it clear that 'nice guys finish last' when it comes to seducing women. He introduces this three part plan of action with women (which Dave initially rejects): 1) suppress your desire to get her into bed; 2) be 'excellent' in her presence and 3) Just when things appear to be going good—retreat!What's great about 'Dex' is that he first has developed a skill that many men would like to have (the art of seduction) but are unable to follow through on. Dex is so good at what he does, that he eventually seduces a married woman who becomes infatuated with him. Unfortunately for Dex, the woman is married to his best friend, who ends up slugging him in the face when he finds out about his wife's infidelity.Dex finally meets his match in Syd, a set designer who was one of Dex's conquests back in their college days. The fact that Dex can't even remember that he bedded Syd way back then, becomes a sore point in their relationship. Nonetheless, love conquers all after Dex realizes that a deeper relationship with a woman beats simply seducing them, ad infinitum.'The Tao of Steve' is a rare example of an 'indie' film that works! The dialogue is on a high intellectual level (replete with literary references) and the plot is not only entertaining, but educational for clueless males. Greer Goodman, Jenniphr's sister, who plays Syd, is an excellent foil to the cad, Dex. Special mention must go to James 'Kimo' Wills, who plays the 'in the dark' Dave. Tao's ending is a bit sentimental and I wonder if Duncan North actually ended up with a 'love of his life', but you'll nonetheless be impressed with what first time feature director Jenniphr Goodman has done, fashioning a narrative that is both fanciful and decidedly true to life.
nixbora Like it or hate it - there is so much truth about dating in this film that it's painful. It's nice to see a movie that takes these games, exploits them and slaps them in the face of everybody who sees this - with a really easy to watch, comical twist. He lays out the rules of dating in a unique, preposterous way. He states what really is the obvious... but nobody wants to admit it. Even the prude, uptight square sociopaths should find enjoyment in this movie and see that there is a huge charade in our society called Dating. It does not matter what a guy looks like... it's all about presentation and Donal Logue nails it! I have even used some of the Tao's rules and guess what... THEY WORK!
teddyryan A little too simple. But, funny. Steve is great. I like what he says. Unfortunately, a lot of the film lags. Especially the love story. Ididn't really care what happened. It 's like a bowl of chili that looksappetizing but after a few bites you're like "This is kind of nasty."
Next12win2 Dex reminds me so much of what I wanted to be during High school....Mentally of course. Greer did such a great job in her portrayal of Syd that I needed proof that she actually co-wrote this "male-psyche" flick. Beautifully written, acted, and casted. A must see!