The Tao of Steve

This modest misfit romantic comedy was a crowd-pleaser on the film festival circuit, and provided character actor Donal Logue, who won Best Actor honors at Sundance, with his breakthrough role as Dex, a former college golden boy whose slovenly "fat Elvis" appearance and slacker lifestyle do not hamper his ability to score with women. His secret: a simple philosophy and set of rules based on achieving the cool of Steve (as in McQueen, Austin and McGarrett--the "prototypical American male"). A consummate womanizer, Dex meets his match in Syd (Greer Goodman, who co-wrote the screenplay with her sister, Jenniphr Goodman, the film's director), a former lover (although he doesn't remember her) who has his number. The New Mexico setting is a refreshing change of pace, and Logue, an irresistible force of nature, leaves the amateurish supporting cast in the dust. Recommended. (K. Lee Benson)