Metacritic reviews

The film is novel-rich, so bristling with life that you might not notice how familiar it is in its contours.

The film’s magic is how it slips the skin of sappy and mendacious formula, stepping away from cliché scene by scene, and in quietly revelatory ways.

As filmmaking, X+Y is unassuming and not entirely remarkable, but the relationships play so sweetly and memorably.

With A+ acting, a solid script and sensitive handling, there’s enough here to move even the hardest of souls.

Matthews’ background as a documentarian is obvious and beneficial. But Matthews also demonstrates expertise as a director of actors, getting creditable performances across the board.

Without the performances and splash of style as support, the film would collapse, because the story is indisputably boxed inside a square of standard dimensions.

Butterfield is quite good, the other kids well-matched and Spall, Hawkins and Marsan terrific in support. That adds up to a picture well-worth your time.

Familiar formula yet Morgan Matthews’ feature debut adds up to a satisfying whole.

This is an attractively unparochial drama with a bracing interest in excellence.

The film focuses on Nathan's emotions and backstage dramas in ways that generally feel forced or inauthentic.