Rating: 
Summary: The only original element of this film was its setting in NM
Review: OK, stop me if you've heard this before, because I sure have. The Tao of Steve is a film about an overeducated, overconfident and underachieving thirtysomething who, unsatisfied with the world of easy women and modern-day relationships, decides to pursue a girl, who - gasp - actually rejects his romantic pursuits at first, then gives in to his charm (?) and despite a few rough spots, they find love...or do they? Original, right? The mood says "indie" but the plot reads as if it was written by a college freshman in Creative Writing 101 after plagarizing his textbook for a story idea.Unlike most romantic comedies in this vein where the hero is a lovable loser, the main character in this film is an actual loser - a loathsome jerk with few redeeming qualities. I would find it hard to believe that the audience can or would identify with the guy. He reminded me a bit of the Star Trek-loving owner of the comic book shop in "The Simpsons." The writer & director try to give the main character some of that indie film 'edginess' (see "Swingers") by having him quote one-liners about dating and modern-day relationships from Eastern philosophy, but they all come off as cliched and forced and are destined to be repeated in internet chat rooms and college campuses across America. Same with the fascination with 1970s lowbrow pop culture (OK, Steve McQueen was big in the 60s). C'mon, it was done almost 10 years before with the Brady Movie! (spoiler) This film is one string of formulas after another that have been done so many times, it's like southwest furniture and dream catchers hanging from endless rearview mirrors - enough already!
Rating: 
Summary: Philosophy with friends
Review: One of the great things about an enjoyable independent film is that because of the nature of the beast (budgetary restraints) you can usually expect that the things which make the film enjoyable are the basics : good dialogue, good acting, good direction. "The Tao of Steve" has all of these elements, in addition to a fabulous, under used setting in the earth and sky elements which dominate the city of Santa Fe, New Mexico. Religious allusions are some of the most popular allusions in all of film and they are abundant in this one. Everything from Buddhism to Taoism to Nihlism to Catholicism is touched upon. It is all done with a degree of both cynicism and reverence. One of the most enjoyable aspects of the film is the intelligence of the writing. The script uses a group of well educated men in their early thirties to illustrate how concepts of ancient religions can be interspersed with ideas of pop culture and courtship in the twentieth century to create a way of life which leads one to the end they desire. Although this works for them for a time, eventually this idea is shown to lead one to what they believe they desire but to fulfill only the most basic of needs. The concept is eventually dismantled through character interaction and dialogue, some of the best examples of the two seen on film in recent years. Particularly impressive is the way the script has one character build up these ideas using the ideas of great writers, thinkers, and religious figures from the past while another character can strike them down with references which are just as literary and relevant. The most impressive part is that these intellectual debates never come off as pretentious, we never feel that the any of the characters are speaking over our heads. With all of the philosophical knowledge that is thrown at us Dex is still our everyman, Syd is still the girl we all had class with in college. The setting is integral to the story, and the cinematography works to convey the philosohpies which are being addressed. In Santa Fe houses work themselves into the landscape, at the opera Dex's shirt blends him into the scenery, everything in the film blends together and it helps to convey that everything in the world is interelated, no matter how important we think we are we're all a part of the whole. This intergral lesson is what Dex must learn to achieve his goal, and it is conveyed perfectly throughout the film through the cinematography. In reading the credits one can see the interelatedness of the people who produced this movie and the personal story that the screenwriter told through his script. Watching this film is like having your closest friends over for dinner, sharing your memories and stories of your current lives. The fact that it opens at a reunion is not an accident, and it carries that feeling of warmth, apprehension and coming home throughout. When I finished watching "The Tao of Steve" I wanted to hit rewind and watch the whole thing over again. It is rare that a film encapsulates a feeling of home and at the same time of such grand philosophical truths. But it is the familiarity of the characters which makes these truths and ideas easy to digest, and "The Tao of Steve" such a likeable, easy to watch, thought provoking film. This film reminded me of "Committed" starring Heather Graham in some ways, with similar settings, similar mystical themes and a feeling of redemption at the end. I would say that "The Tao of Steve" is a better film though because it tells the story in a much more simple, straightforward manner. There is no place in this film for a viewer to get lost, but when given deeper thought, there are incredible areas set up for the viewer to explore.
Rating:
Summary: Don't bother with this...
Review: Terrible script. Jenniphr (notice her pretentious spelling) Goodman should really go to film school. Style will never replace substance. The film is sophomoric at best, and not clever at all. Besides using her actress-y sister in the lead, Goodman uses what seem to be friends and family in the film. There is theoretically nothing wrong with helping friends and family score some money and work, but please let them be deserving. Terrible. A waste of time and money.
Rating: 
Summary: Are you a Steve or a Stu?
Review: The main character of this film is not Steve, but Dex -- an overweight, intellectual, thirtysomething single guy with one philosophy in life: be like Steve. The TAO of the title refers to the attitude of Steve McQueen and other cool, famous Steves, with regards to getting women. So far it's worked for Dex, but when he runs into an old college acquaintance at a reunion, he may have finally found someone immune to the Tao of Steve. Dex is played by Donal Logue, from the very funny sitcom GROUNDED FOR LIFE. He's charismatic and likable despite flaws (who hasn't got them, after all?) Much of the rest of the cast is composed of friends and family of the director/co-writer, which gives the movie a natural, unscripted feel. The story is based on the real life experiences of Duncan North, who also co-wrote the film. It's a romantic comedy, but with the freshness that indie films seem so much more capable of than Hollywood productions. It's light; it won't have you on the floor with laughter, nor will it touch you deeply, but it is a wholly enjoyable little film, and one which I would recommend. The DVD contains a commentary track by the director, co-writer, and the two leads, and is casual and interesting. You'll learn about the man behind the movie, and it is worth checking out as well.
Rating:
Summary: Are you a Steve or a Stu?
Review: The main character of this film is not Steve, but Dex -- an overweight, intellectual, thirtysomething single guy with one philosophy in life: be like Steve. The TAO of the title refers to the attitude of Steve McQueen and other cool, famous Steves, with regards to getting women. So far it's worked for Dex, but when he runs into an old college acquaintance at a reunion, he may have finally found someone immune to the Tao of Steve. Dex is played by Donal Logue, from the very funny sitcom GROUNDED FOR LIFE. He's charismatic and likable despite flaws (who hasn't got them, after all?) Much of the rest of the cast is composed of friends and family of the director/co-writer, which gives the movie a natural, unscripted feel. The story is based on the real life experiences of Duncan North, who also co-wrote the film. It's a romantic comedy, but with the freshness that indie films seem so much more capable of than Hollywood productions. It's light; it won't have you on the floor with laughter, nor will it touch you deeply, but it is a wholly enjoyable little film, and one which I would recommend. The DVD contains a commentary track by the director, co-writer, and the two leads, and is casual and interesting. You'll learn about the man behind the movie, and it is worth checking out as well.
Rating:
Summary: A STUDY IN GREEN AND ORANGE
Review: The southwest never looked so green...and orange in any movie. It makes you want to buy a ticket and leave today. A fun, engaging portrait of a slacker with soul, a heart and some hope for romance. Brings a smile to your face.
Rating:
Summary: What do they know in Brooklyn
Review: The Tao of Steve is actually quite well written contrary to what the Brooklyn reviewer opines. This movie presents a nice contrast between the futility of serial sexual relationships and the human joy found in a relationship built on love, one in which the sex is icing on an already-delicious cake. Donal Logue is excellent and Greer Goodman is tres cool. Thumbs up!
Rating:
Summary: The Bible for Single Guys
Review: The Tao of Steve is one of those rare movies that truthfully captures the essense of modern life, or in this case, modern single-guy life. I could tell you every plot detail, every bit of dialog in this film, and I still couldn't ruin it. It expresses and confirms many of those common, unspoken things that you knew were there all along. Girls will watch the film in disbelieve, while their boyfriends are quietly taking notes. The title doesn't refer to any one character in the movie, but rather the mystique of the quintiessential American Guy (aka, "Steve") who is cool and hip and gets all the girls without even trying. Main character Dex is the embodyment of the Tao, as he has many, many beautiful girlfriends despite being rather portly, unkept, and a loser in professional life. Sheer personality and cunning allow Dex to figure out women and win their affection (or specifically, to have sex with them). The film's plot revolves around his (successful) struggle to win one non-responsive girl in particular (named Syd), and also explain to his guy friends how the master gets the job done. The rules of the Tao of Steve are simple yet easily misunderstood, and the film does a great job of fleshing them out into something real and concrete. Dex's "conquest" of Syd is especially fun to watch because it realistically twists and turns throughout the movie, and you'll appriciate the "dorky guy" character who, while watching from the sidelines, asks all the stupid "what if" questions you've ever wanted answered. I was amused that the ending was so obviously sanitized for the ladies. Basically, Dex falls in love and denounces the Tao, thus "changing" for his girl and giving us a "happily-ever-after" ending; girls in the audience might be tempted to believe that guys don't really embrace this womanizing, sexist view of life that basically disempowers them. Sadly, ladies, the Tao is very real and does not go away after true-love. It also reminds me that the film's core essense can only be understood by guys. Also, this "clean" ending isn't really needed, as the men in the film aren't all powerful, and the women aren't weak and clueless. In fact, the movie's charm comes from its character and contradictions, how Dex sometimes talks too much, how heis sometimes completely transparent, how Syd is herself not a towering temple of womanhood, either. Perhaps the Hollywood ending is there is remind us that a) the Tao can only get you so far, and b) there are somethings that the sexes will never understand about each other.
Rating:
Summary: The Bible for Single Guys
Review: The Tao of Steve is one of those rare movies that truthfully captures the essense of modern life, or in this case, modern single-guy life. I could tell you every plot detail, every bit of dialog in this film, and I still couldn't ruin it. It expresses and confirms many of those common, unspoken things that you knew were there all along. Girls will watch the film in disbelieve, while their boyfriends are quietly taking notes. The title doesn't refer to any one character in the movie, but rather the mystique of the quintiessential American Guy (aka, "Steve") who is cool and hip and gets all the girls without even trying. Main character Dex is the embodyment of the Tao, as he has many, many beautiful girlfriends despite being rather portly, unkept, and a loser in professional life. Sheer personality and cunning allow Dex to figure out women and win their affection (or specifically, to have sex with them). The film's plot revolves around his (successful) struggle to win one non-responsive girl in particular (named Syd), and also explain to his guy friends how the master gets the job done. The rules of the Tao of Steve are simple yet easily misunderstood, and the film does a great job of fleshing them out into something real and concrete. Dex's "conquest" of Syd is especially fun to watch because it realistically twists and turns throughout the movie, and you'll appriciate the "dorky guy" character who, while watching from the sidelines, asks all the stupid "what if" questions you've ever wanted answered. I was amused that the ending was so obviously sanitized for the ladies. Basically, Dex falls in love and denounces the Tao, thus "changing" for his girl and giving us a "happily-ever-after" ending; girls in the audience might be tempted to believe that guys don't really embrace this womanizing, sexist view of life that basically disempowers them. Sadly, ladies, the Tao is very real and does not go away after true-love. It also reminds me that the film's core essense can only be understood by guys. Also, this "clean" ending isn't really needed, as the men in the film aren't all powerful, and the women aren't weak and clueless. In fact, the movie's charm comes from its character and contradictions, how Dex sometimes talks too much, how heis sometimes completely transparent, how Syd is herself not a towering temple of womanhood, either. Perhaps the Hollywood ending is there is remind us that a) the Tao can only get you so far, and b) there are somethings that the sexes will never understand about each other.
Rating: 
Summary: A bit rough, but still enjoyable
Review: The Tao of Steve lies firmly in the movie tradition of "irascible but lovable girl-scamming scamp grows up and falls in love". What sets it apart are its (flimsy) philosophical underpinnings, its unusual location (Santa Fe, which deserves a co-billing), and a hard-to-define "freshness" that characterizes the film, its leads, and its actors. "Viewer from Brooklyn" (below) pans the script and direction; and, indeed, both are clumsy. However, "viewer from Brooklyn" recommends that Jenniphr Goodman (director) attend film school -- ironically, he is clearly not aware that she graduated, with honors, from New York University's Graduate Film School. The main character, "Dex", is based strongly on the life and personality of the co-writer, Duncan North. North is a graduate of St. John's College (of both Santa Fe and Annapolis), a very unusual liberal arts college whose curriculum is based entirely on the so-called "Great Books" canon. (This reviewer is also an alum of the college.) SJC is never referred to directly, which is a pity because some information about Dex's unusual education -- and the social milieu that he's a part of as a result -- might have better explained Dex's unusually erudite and philosophically oriented world-view. Large ideas and significant quotes persist throughout the film (though almost always presented in a lighthearted manner), and there's no doubt that this will have an effect on how one views and enjoys this film. For many, it will seem insufferably pretentious. On the other hand, the college itself and its alumni might all be grateful for the lack of identification: Dex's erudition seems to be put exclusively to the task of cocktail-party (and poker party) chatter, intellectual sexual come-ons, and general puffery. Furthermore, the erudition seems all-too-shallow, as if Dex's primary source was the Reader's Digest version of Mortimer Adler's "Great Ideas". Whether this is representative of Duncan North himself, I don't know, but it certainly is not representative of the college or its alumni. The fact remains, however, that ultimately Dex's only real charm is his unabashedly childish (and very Taoist) love of being a kindergarten teacher. This part of Dex is perhaps the only evidence that there's a part of himself that is truly engaged with the world, that perhaps takes these great ideas earnestly and with good nature, and that there is, in the end, a reason for a woman to fall in love with him. All in all, "The Tao of Steve" is itself a gem-in-the-rough. It's a film of scattered pieces, some of which are attractive and valuable, others of which are fool's gold, (and still others of which are just plain old rocks). Like Dex, the film has within itself something beautiful and important to reveal, and yet cannot truly do so because of a certain preoccupation with superficiality due to the imperatives of insecurity. Expect Ms. Goodman's next film to be more self-assured.
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