MovieChat Forums > The Tao of Steve (2000) Discussion > what aren't people seeing here?

what aren't people seeing here?

posted 20 years ago by lilianelle
52 replies | jump to latest

I'm astounded not to find more board posts. This film is really good for several reasons (SPOILERS):
1. No Hurlywood glurge and gloss. It just looks real.
2. Intelligent characters that didn't fall out of a stock character book.
3. Words you don't hear in films...ever. When was the last film where a character got the giggles over a word like "solipsistic", or discussed Kierkegaard?
4. Not totally pretentious either. After all, there's mention of The Bionic Man and Hawaii 5-0, and other TV-generation topics.
5. Different. How often does the cute smart girl go for the big arrogant oaf? How often do you see a guy really playing around with some little kids? How often do you see frisbee golf in the desert?
6. Relevant. Dating's a gauntlet, and we all do some really stupid $%&* when we're in the throes of it.
7. Cast of unknowns. I'm so sick of the A list.

I could go on. Basically, this film is really entertaining and astute.

"It's a good deal...it's a good deal for ME!"

[–] mingustrane05 20 years ago

hear hear! right on on every account. what is wrong with people? if brad pitt, or matt damon doesn't start in something is it immediately disregardible? I had to laugh at the review by one guy who said, "what's to like about this guy? he's a drug user" ewwww, god forbid we have characters using drugs in movies, or swearing. no one in America ever does that! it makes me wanna scream!!!!! I love offbeat, under the radar, quirky stuff like this movie. see it today!

[–] manduke1956 18 years ago

Exactly. Being stuck on an island in Canada and being from Arizona, I was casually surfing and found this unexpected , brave gem of a film. Beyond geography I identified a bit with Dex being a larger intellectual type who has had interesting experiences-I can't seem to stay single longer than a year!(longest time in my adult life now-2 years) (I.m almost 50) I see plenty of hunky stupid jerks-I think the message here , in part, was to get over the self-loathing and take a chance on a real relationship. It can really hurt-but if a year or a lifetime its worth chasing. Nice to see realistic people in a film that actually is shown-I wonder if this would ever be seen on US TV? Great flick, with a lot of deep cultural meat below the surface. A must see for all those with a one night stand on their mind, or people with self-esteem issues.

[–] jkescander 20 years ago

the amazingly ignorant comments just prior to this are not worth retorting to....

ok! this movie totally charmed me, from the first frame....how refreshing to have a fat guy get the girl! this actually happens occasionally in real life, can u believe it?! this film has a delightful blend of comedy, intelligence, and philosophical insight that is rarely seen in movies today, and it so deserves all the critical high marks it gets..!

[–] nutsberryfarm 11 years ago

plus, it's full of zen.

Where there's smoke, there's barbecue!

[–] whyteguy5000 19 years ago

Your comments are absolutely on the money , Lilianelle. I loved this movie(and not because it holds up a mirror to my personal life) and I can't believe that so many people did't "get" it. A man may not reach emotional maturity when others expect him to , but instead , when HE is ready. Dex was ready.

[–] 19 years ago

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[–] rottencargo 19 years ago

The absolute beauty of this film is Dex's character. I know the fat guy who gets the pretty girl. I was at his wedding last summer. It wasn't me, but i am working on falling into that category some day. If a guy - any guy - can be intelligent and funny, all while maintaining a sense of sincerity, while un-abashedly trying to nail girls, and still pull it off in the end, i think the character deserves a little credit. But that's just a shallow approach to the film. It has much more than that, because for some reason i think everyone knows a guy who can fall into this category. Sometimes the guy isn't fat - he's nerdy, or is balding, or has some stereotyped flaw, but still lands a sexy lady. I think Tina Fey mentioned something like that in an interview, when she said Men can screw above their station if they are funny. She said there are plenty of hilarious fat-ass writers with hot women, because they can always make them laugh, which hightens the saratonins and keeps them happy. She also says it doesn't work both ways, cuz guys are shallow. And really, do we have an argument? But honestly, a totally fresh film giving a little twist to a romantic-comedy. Plus, great accidental comedy like when Kimo's character checks out the lead actress' ass when he's eating a bowl of cereal in the morning (said to be improve when watched with the comentary on on the dvd).
Great Flick

[–] hodie 19 years ago

Maybe it's me, but I found Donal Logue's character to be extremely sexy (although he was quite shallow as the movie began) when he learned to grow up.
Funny, smart, articulate and nice men have it all over pretty guys in my book.

Maybe it's because Dex reminds me of a guy I used to date. Propriety forbods me from elaborating, but in the words of Birdie Coonan, "There was *nothin'* he didn't know.

I thought setting the film in New Mexico was quirky too, but then again, why not?

[–] ferickurtz70 19 years ago

Donal Logue was pretty funny in this. I saw this is at screening about five years ago and the audience loved it. I thought the whole Steve Mcqueen cool thing was hilarious. Very entertaining.

[–] 19 years ago

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[–] mlewis3 19 years ago

there is really nothin bad to say about this film. it was fresh and i loved it.

"I'm talking about drawing a line in the sand, dude. Across this line, you DO NOT... Also, dude..."

[–] zeeke 19 years ago

Although I see your point, there are LOADS of films like that u need to get down to the cinema

"...I'm a contradiction"

[–] RosenKratz 19 years ago

so glad to see this thread. this remains one of my favorite movies to recommend to people looking for something fresh....even though it's 5 years old.......