XX/XY is an interesting look at the world of youthful attraction and all the odd little things (and not so odd) that complicate a relationship.The film opens with with twenty-something artist Coles (Mark Ruffalo), a rather free spirit who engages in a experimental escapade with college students Sam (Kathleen Robertson) and Thea (May Stange). Following the awkward situation, Coles and Sam start a relationship that is put to the test by a series of seemingly nonsensical choices. Welcome to the fabulous world of dating. Cut to ten years later. Coles has realized his dream. He has become a film maker and animator, but very few really admire his work. He's been in a serious relationship with a woman for five years, but that union is quickly put to the test when he bumps into Sam, who he hasn't seen in years. Naturally, the two still have a connection, even though they are now completely different people. This is when this complex character study really takes off.

This observant and sometimes painful account of attraction, love and confessions was written and directed by Austin Chick. And while I had a hard time really buying into some of this film's emotional pitfalls, I thought the movie as a whole was quite provocative. In fact, much of it was uncomfortable to watch because of it's sheer honesty. Mark Ruffalo soars as Coles. This is his best work to date. This is a complex role and Ruffalo manages to make him complicated and indifferent but also very human.

XX/XY may not always ring completely true, but it's thought provoking enough to keep audiences discussing it.