The Tao of Steve

Starring Donal Logue, Greer Goodman and James 'Kimo' Wills

Directed by Jenniphr Goodman 

Written by Duncan North and Greer Goodman 

 

 The thyrsoi were carried by Dionysos and his retinue of Satyrs and Maenads. The thyrsoi were carried by Dionysos and his retinue of Satyrs and Maenads. The thyrsoi were carried by Dionysos and his retinue of Satyrs and Maenads.

Good

  (HeadlineMuse rating system)

 

Reviewed by 

Mark Greene

     Picture Don Giovanni smoking a little pot before going to his part-time job as a kindergarten teacher.  No, that won’t work, but this film does, for the most part.  Meet Dex, the fat guy, played cunningly by Donal Logue.  What unfolds ostensibly is a visual handbook for how to score with ‘chicks.’  Luckily for this film, the main character gets to use a little intuition to sublimate such foul things as recipes-for-romance into an actual ‘move’ out of routine seduction into the unknown terrain of vulnerability and surrender to love.

     Or so we’re led to believe, and probably would succeed in doing if not for the consistently annoying soundtrack whose lyrics seem to summarize ‘what happened’ in each passing scene just in case we might have missed it.  The effect is akin to a Monty Python skit made up of a Greek chorus and Hooty and the Blowfish (“He is Brave Sir Dexter . . .”).

     What archetypes show up here?  A combination of the wise old man and the eternal youth, or Peter Pan-type figure.  Although it is far from shocking to realize that knowledge delivered from the right place can seduce the pants off of anyone looking for a teacher.  Still, like the power of a magic incantation, this film suggests that having more than a passing knowledge of philosophies and sundry religions can be used to get what you want.  What do the single men of this film (and perhaps, this world) want?  You got it; sex.

Looking at the now-famous formula will help understand the mischievous tone of this film (if at any time you forget this mantra, listen to the title song and it will spell it out for you).

1.      Eliminate your desire (for your object of desire)*

2.      Show her your excellence in something (kindergarten?)

3.      Retreat (i.e., do not return phone calls)

*comments within ( ) are my own

         If executed correctly, the user of this magic will have attained the Tao of Steve (that is Steve McGarrett of Hawaii 50, Steve Austin of the 6-Million Dollar Man and the ultimate in coolness, Steve McQueen).  

         When did the Tao and coolness become synonyms?  Well, never mind the details.  This film actually pulls it off.  And it can wait for your video rental in a couple of months.

 

Mark Greene
September 2000

 

©COPYRIGHT 2000 by Mark Greene

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