New This Week
Critics & Publications
Archives: A-Z Index
Advanced Search

Upcoming Release Calendar
Awards & Bests By Year
All-Time High Scores
All-Time Low Scores
How Metascores Are Calculated
Discuss Film In Our Forums

sort by name

sort by score

38 12 Rounds
xx Baby on Board
xx Bob Funk
62 Cherry Blossoms
38 Confessions of a Shopaholic
38 Crossing Over
38 Dark Streets
58 Defiance
45 Fanboys
31 Fired Up
37 Forever Strong
34 Friday the 13th
72 Gran Torino
47 He's Just Not That Into You
47 Inkheart
52 International, The
45 Jonas Brothers: The 3D Concert Experience
50 Madea Goes to Jail
51 Morning Light
51 My Bloody Valentine 3-D
29 New in Town
28 Nobel Son
40 Outlander
39 Paul Blart: Mall Cop
56 Phoebe in Wonderland
36 Pink Panther 2
xx Powder Blue
69 Revolutionary Road
20 Spinning Into Butter
17 Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li
64 Thousand Years of Good Prayers, A
63 Tokyo!
74 Two Lovers
56 Valkyrie
91 Waltz with Bashir
22 What Goes Up

Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed movies.

Tao of Steve, The
Sony Pictures Classics


9.0

based on 30 reviews
Read critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

based on 6 votes
Read user comments
Rate this movie

MPAA RATING: R for language and some drug use

Starring Donal Logue, Greer Goodman, Kimo Wills, and Ayelet Kaznelson

A former college ladies man and current "cool" kindergarten teacher who thinks he has discovered the secrets of dating known as The Tao of Steve falls for a woman who does not seem to be susceptible to his charms.

GENRE(S):	Comedy
WRITTEN BY:	Duncan North Jenniphr Goodman Greer Goodman
DIRECTED BY:	Jenniphr Goodman
RELEASE DATE:	DVD: March 20, 2001 Video: March 20, 2001 Theatrical: August 4, 2000
RUNNING TIME:	87 minutes, Color
ORIGIN:	USA

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

100

Los Angeles Times Kevin Thomas

A constant, idiosyncratic pleasure that leaves us eager to see what the Goodmans and Logue will do next.

100

Boston Globe Jay Carr

One of the year's most winning performances, Logue's Dex will grow on you as he stumbles toward emotional fullness.

100

Rolling Stone Peter Travers

Logue hits every note of humor and heart in his breakthrough role. Don't miss him. He's that good.

Entertainment Weekly Lisa Schwarzbaum

It's a tiny, sunny character study about a fat guy who's an unlikely chick magnet. And as such it's a pip.

Slate David Edelstein

Went down like a slice of warm pecan pie topped with two scoops of Ben and Jerry's Bovinity Divinity.

Washington Post Rita Kempley

Warmhearted, wonderfully witty.

Washington Post Michael O'Sullivan

Wise, funny, sweet, sexy and kind.

Film.com Sean Means

An offbeat delight.

New York Post Jonathan Foreman

An ideal antidote to the big-budget bores that studios put out in late summer, The Tao of Steve is a charming, funny and refreshingly smart Gen-X romantic comedy in the tradition of "When Harry Met Sally" - with the bonus of an engagingly laid-back Southwestern flavor.

Baltimore Sun Chris Kaltenbach

A welcome anomaly - a shallow hero you root for.

Seattle Post-Intelligencer William Arnold

Like most films in this overworked genre, it's as formulaic in its own way as a John Wayne western, and the characters and situations all have a gnawing predictability about them.

Portland Oregonian Shawn Levy

The picture is Logue's entirely, and without him, it might not be worth a visit.

Christian Science Monitor David Sterritt

Logue's magnetic performance is the movie's main virtue, supported by a good secondary cast and a sharply written screenplay.

New York Daily News Jami Bernard

Outside of the leads, the acting is uneven, but The Tao of Steve has an unquenchable playful spirit.

USA Today Staff [Not Credited]

This quirky, winning sleeper from first-time director Jenniphr Goodman has its pokey moments, but it's no insult to say that it is as pleasantly easygoing as its slacker hero.

Philadelphia Inquirer Steven Rea

Loose, eminently likable stuff.

San Francisco Chronicle Mick LaSalle

A modest but charming romantic comedy.

Mr. Showbiz Kevin Maynard

A charming movie.

Chicago Sun-Times Roger Ebert

One of the things I like about the movie is the wit of its dialogue, the way sentences and conversations coil with confidence up to a conclusion that is totally unexpected.

TV Guide Maitland McDonagh

So adorable you don't ever mind that the story's so slight it's in danger of shriveling up and blowing away, or that it drags a little in the middle.

Dallas Observer Gregory Weinkauf

Since the narrative's destination is awkwardly obvious, and the tone occasionally melts into a sticky-sweet mess like cotton candy in the sun, the movie is most often saved by its generous helpings of clever dialogue.

Film.com Robert Horton

A crowd pleaser, but there's something a bit prim and pre-determined about its conclusions.

The New York Times A.O. Scott

Can't redeem the moves toward its predictable happy ending. But the movie has a protagonist who has a great time getting there.

Charlotte Observer Lawrence Toppman

Far too clever for its own good.

Chicago Tribune John Petrakis

The problem is that we never see Dex employing the Steve technique to bed a female.

San Francisco Examiner Wesley Morris

The vibe is acoustic-cafe: cute, catchy and ironic given its wimpy point of view.

Chicago Reader Lisa Alspector

The clunky plot is set in Santa Fe, and includes a foil character who might as well wear a sign on his forehead.

Village Voice Jessica Winter

Can any American filmmaker other than the Farrellys make a rom-com in which the principals engage in activities apart from the tiresomely tireless dissection of rom?

Austin Chronicle Marc Savlov

It's the kind of film you feel like watching twice -- not because you found it that engaging to begin with, but because you didn't, and everyone else did.

LA Weekly Paul Malcolm

It's amazing that anyone still thinks this kind of shit can fly.

The average user rating for this movie is 9.0 (out of 10) based on 6 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Ryan M. gave it a9:
First, it's totally hilarious, a funny and smart male comedy. Then, as we get to its core, it's very, very, moving.

Amie gave it a 10:
As perfect as the romantic comedy genre can get--funny, sweet, a great soundtrack, and a amazing performance by Donal Logue in the lead. Will linger in your thoughts long after the final credits roll.

Herschel M. gave it an 8:
Breezy, bright, relaxed, and quick. Great character (Dek) and others almost as strong. The dialog flows in a very natural way that gives it the ring of truth and reality. It's a very "natural" movie except for the forced and corny ending ... but by then the pleasure of watching it made me want to forgive how it was wrapped up.

David O. gave it a 9:
Lovely to look at, amusing to listen to. A pleasant movie and a great date movie.

Rick gave it a 10:
Awesome movie! Cast works very well together. Donal Logue plays the part perfectly. He's the guy you've always wanted to be, just cool as a cat. His performance in this movie has made his current show "Grounded For Life" so enjoyable to watch. Overall, the movie just reminds you of what life was when you were in your younger days. Reminds you of those casanovas who made you wonder "how do they do it?" "Tao of Steve" shows you how. Good plot, good details, good characters, happy ending. Just an overall great film.

Discuss this movie in our forums

Return to top of page

Tao of Steve, The Sony Pictures Classics

Tao of Steve, The
Sony Pictures Classics