The Tao of Steve (2000)

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

Director:

Jenniphr Goodman

Writers:

Duncan North, Greer Goodman

Stars:

Donal Logue, Ayelet Kaznelson, John Hines

1 win & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Donal Logue	...	Dex
Ayelet Kaznelson	...	Beth
John Hines	...	Ed
John Harrington Bland	...	Priest
Jessica Gormley	...	Gossipy Woman
Mercedes Herrero	...	Gossipy Woman
Cheryl Anne Jaroslaw	...	Gossipy Woman
Nina Jaroslaw	...	Maggie
David Aaron Baker	...	Rick
Dana Goodman	...	Julie
Greer Goodman	...	Syd
Dave Bynum	...	Epperley Reunion Band: Bass
Matt Nader	...	Epperley Reunion Band: Guitar and Vocals
Dave Terry	...	Epperley Reunion Band - Vocals and Guitar
John Truskett	...	Epperley Reunion Band: Drums

Storyline

In his early 30s, the beer-bellied Dex has things figured out. He's widely read in philosophy, he's studied Steve McQueen the prototypical cool American hero, and he's distilled Buddhism and Taoism into three laws that make him a hit with women: don't express desire, do something heroic in front of her, then retreat. A part-time job with young children, beer, guys, Frisbee golf, pool, poker, his dog Astro, and sex: what could be missing? Then, at his ten-year college reunion, Dex meets Syd, and the "Tao of Steve" may not be enough to get him what he wants. Plus, Syd remembers something important that Dex has forgotten. Can a cool smart guy, 50 pounds overweight, find his bliss?

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Plot Keywords:

seduction | sex | kindergarten | frisbee | philosophy | 

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Taglines:

Why do women find this man irresistible?

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language and some drug use

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

1 September 2000 (USA)

Also Known As:

Dex, der Frauenheld

Filming Locations:

Baskin-Robbins Ice Cream Parlor - 1841 Cerrillos Road, Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$91,791, 6 August 2000, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$4,340,373, 17 December 2000

Company Credits

Production Co:

Good Machine, Thunderhead Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

87 min 81 min (TV)

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Goofs

When Dex and Syd are at her office, and Dex bends down after knocking over of a few baskets, you can see his strap-on belly.

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Quotes

Dex: Look at me. Look at me, okay? Technically, I shouldn't be getting laid, but I do. And do you know why, Dave? Because when I'm hanging out with a woman, that's all I'm doing is hanging out, talking, listening. I'm not sitting there thinking about how to get in bed with her. And this completely confuses them because they're saying "Wait a minute. I'm so much better looking than this guy. Isn't he attracted to me?" The basic principle: We pursue that which retreats from us.
Rick: It's from Heidegger.
Unnamed Guy Playing Poker: ...

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Crazy Credits

Based on a story by Duncan North Based on an idea by Duncan North Based on Duncan North

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Connections

References Late Night with David Letterman (1982)

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Soundtracks

Nice Guy Eddie
(1996)
Performed by Epperley
Written by Dave Bynum (as David Bynum), Matt Nader, Dave Terry (as David Terry),
John Truskett
Published by Windswept Pacific Songs
Courtesy of Triple X Records

User Reviews

Entertaining, Insightful, Funny, Moving

Entertaining, Insightful, Funny, Moving.

This film was a delight to see. Immediately after viewing the DVD I ran the director's commentary that was nearly as entertaining to listen to as the film was! All of the participants in the commentary (including the director, writer, and both leads) were intelligent, amusing, and and very entertaining: I wanted to invite them all over for dinner and play poker and talk philosophy (and of course, the Tao of Steve) until dawn. I take that back, after viewing the stunning photography of the film, I want them to invite *me* to dinner in Sante Fe! I did have to stop the film to look up solipsistic, though <g>.

I want to see more where this came from and so will you if you choose to view this wonderful film!