All About Steve
Directed by Phil Traill
- comedy
The story
After one short blind date, Mary Horowitz, a brilliant and eccentric crossword constructor, is convinced that Steve, a CCN cameraman, is her soul mate. Because his job takes him hither and yon, she crisscrosses the country following Steve, with the encouragement of a reporter, turning up at media events he's at to convince him they are perfect for each other. Along the way, she befriends an assortment of misfits who accept her for who she is, leading her to reassess her reasons for this strange journey.
What it’s like
Bright, saturated, slightly overexposed American daytime light, the kind that flattens everything into a cheerful sheen, with a bold palette of primary reds, yellows and cable-news blues that makes every set look like a stage. The camera is mostly steady and frontal, favouring wide shots of motels, highway diners, television studios and blustering Colorado sky, with a few tornado-chasing sequences shot in rushing, wind-tossed chaos. Sound is light and bouncy: a jaunty, playful score, crisp ambient chatter of news crews and broadcast patter, and comic beats landed with bright timing. The vibe is warm, goofy and sunny with a touch of awkward sweetness, a comedy to put on for an easy weekend afternoon, a lazy evening in, or a comfort rewatch when you want to laugh without thinking too hard. Its pace is brisk and episodic, with a central figure whose earnest obsessiveness keeps spilling into the odd and endearing, and the arc gently moves from fixation toward self-acceptance and found family. The intensity is mild: some slapstick and a brief tornado peril, no gore, no real cruelty, and only light innuendo. It suits people who want a sweet, silly romantic comedy that celebrates oddballs and asks nothing of them.
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