XX/XY (2002)

44% of critics liked it
(61 reviews)
43% of users liked it
(2,978 ratings)

A man finds himself having to decide between one of two women -- not once, but twice -- in this independent drama. In 1993, Coles (Mark Ruffalo) is a film student at Sarah Lawrence where he meets two fellow undergrads, Thea (Kathleen Robertson) and Sam (Maya Stange). Coles and Sam come together and… More A man finds himself having to decide between one of two women -- not once, but twice -- in this independent drama. In 1993, Coles (Mark Ruffalo) is a film student at Sarah Lawrence where he meets two fellow undergrads, Thea (Kathleen Robertson) and Sam (Maya Stange). Coles and Sam come together and Thea fades out of the picture. In time, Sam tires of Coles' aimlessly hedonistic attitude, and they break up. Ten years later, Coles, after a failed career in feature films, is doing animation for an advertising agency and living with his girlfriend, Claire (Petra Wright); Thea helps run a successful restaurant with her husband, Miles (David Thornton); and Sam, smarting from a bad breakup, returns to New York after several years in London. Coles runs into Sam and discovers he still has strong feelings for her, but has to decide if they're strong enough to break off his relationship with Claire. XX/XY was the first feature film from writer/director Austin Chick. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 31 min.
Directed By: Austin Chick
Written By: Austin Chick
Genres: Drama

In Theaters: Oct 24, 2003 Wide
On DVD: Jul 29, 2003
Studio: IFC Films

Critic Reviews

Geoff Pevere, Toronto Star
With its talky and theatricalized depiction of cruelties mutually inflicted by financially comfortable good-looking young white people on each other, XX/XY at times recalls a slightly more full-blooded Neil LaBute movie.
Ray Conlogue, Globe and Mail
Rarely does a fine movie like this have so awkward a title.
Jan Stuart, Newsday
Ruffalo continues to be one of the most intriguing actors of his generation.
Robert Denerstein, Denver Rocky Mountain News
There's probably a movie in XX/XY, but director Austin Chick doesn't seem to have found it.
Vic Vogler, Denver Post
XX/XY expresses and explores this universal yearning without becoming stuck in it. In this and many other respects, few movies are so mature and satisfying.
Jeff Strickler, Minneapolis Star Tribune
It never addresses the underlying issue on which those relationships hinge: Is Coles still in love with Sam, or is he just in love with what she represents.
Tom Dawson, BBC
Succeeds as an amusing critique rather than an empty-headed endorsement of its protagonists' behaviour.
JoBlo, JoBlo's Movie Emporium
Entertained, enlightened and engaged.
Rich Cline, Shadows on the Wall
Basically it's just a chick flick about people obsessing constantly over sex and relationships! But the performances make it watchable.
Liz Braun, Jam! Movies
XX/XY is a lovely film and very smart, and it's for grownups. That's a rare pleasure.

Read all 10 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Walter M

[font=Century Gothic]"XX/XY" starts in 1993 in New York City. After Coles(Mark Ruffalo), an artist and aspiring filmmaker, gracefully jumps a turnstile in the subway, he notices a comely young woman, Sam(Maya Stange), and follows her back to a party at Saint Lawrence… More
[font=Century Gothic]"XX/XY" starts in 1993 in New York City. After Coles(Mark Ruffalo), an artist and aspiring filmmaker, gracefully jumps a turnstile in the subway, he notices a comely young woman, Sam(Maya Stange), and follows her back to a party at Saint Lawrence College where he strikes up a conversation with her. Luckily for him, he not only gets to spend the night with her but also with her friend, Thea(Kathleen Robertson). Out of that situation, Sam and Coles start going out together while Thea and her friend, Sid(Kel O'Neill), become intimate. All of which would be fine if Coles did not have sex with everything that moved...[/font] [font=Century Gothic][/font] [font=Century Gothic][/font] [font=Century Gothic]"XX/XY" is an insipid movie that is ostensibly about the maturing process after college but there are no set rules that go along with getting older.(Although flossing is recommended...) In my experience college students are not that carefree, just very melodramatic. The only event that is guaranteed to change a person's life as a young adult is taking care of another person - be they child or parent. [/font] [font=Century Gothic][/font] [font=Century Gothic]In the movie, barely drawn characters all orbit around the one person who has a personality(and a hairstyle does not count as a personality trait) but since it is such an unpleasant one, the movie never comes together. It is a shame because the film does have its share of nice moments.[/font]
Leo L

A favorite.