THE TAO OF STEVE

US, 2000, 87 minutes, Colour.
Donal Logue, Greer Goodman.
Directed by Jenniphr Goodman.

A small-budget comedy, a winner at the Sundance Festival. It is very much a film for those in their twenties who will identify with the issues, if not the characters. Those who have left their twenties behind (especially long ago) will be more than a touch impatient with these men and women who are groping (quite a relevant verb) their way to some meaning in life. Donal Logue is striking and credible in the central role of the womanising Dex. He certainly looks an unlikely Lothario as he is, in his own words, 'the fattest'. His philosophy (and he does have in his library and quotes a number of philosophers, especially Lao Tsu) is self-absorbed, inflated in its pronouncements about sex and pompous in its judgements on lesser mortals. He also relies on the media image of the various Steves, Steve Austin and The Six Million Dollar Man, Steve Mc Garrett, Hawaii 5-0, and Steve Mc Queen.

However, he begins to fall in love and his behaviour becomes inconsistent with his 'principles' and..., well, you will probably guess the rest. This means that it really is a generally moral fable (ultimately) for its twenties' audience who are struggling to find what they really believe in terms of themselves and their live goals and their relationships.

Director Jenniphr Goodman worked with her sister, Greer Goodman who appears as Syd, on the screenplay.

1. The title? Expectations? The philosophy of Lao Tsu? The focus on the three action Steve’s from film and television? The philosophy of seduction, express no desire, act heroically, retreat?

2. The Santa Fe settings, home, kindergarten? Camping? New York City? The musical score?

3. Dex as a Lothario, 30s, fat? Self-image? With women, seduction? Sports, Frisbees, his dog? Working at the kindergarten, interaction with the children? At home, his life? Self-satisfied?

4. Dex, a thirtysomething, the meaning of his life, the meaning of sex and seduction, not thinking of changing? And then a challenge?

5. His history of sexual encounters, the 10 year reunion? His meeting Syd, not remembering her, her being hurt? Syd, set designer, a character? His trying to use his philosophy on her, her not responding?

6. The camp, Syd with Dex, his pain, thinking had a stroke, heartburn, going to the hospital? The life warnings from his doctor?

7. Back at school, the encounter with the husband, punching him in front of the students?

8. Syd, arriving to support him, the sexual experience – and her aftermath reaction to his philosophy, leaving in disgust?

9. Dex, some kind of awareness that he should reform?

10. Later in New York City, Syd and her work, the message on Dex’s answering machine, his being present – what future?