Spoiler Alert

Finally a big budget film that doesn't mock or create more stereotypes within the queer community. This is a heartfelt touching film. Finally they get the idea write a script, and then don't focus on who the characters are gender or sex wise just cast great actors. This is a smart realistic portray of a couple. Who both happen to be male. It is great for the community and it's a step forward. But in general far beyond that this is purely beautiful work of art. It's sad that it took this long comment to understand one that a couple can be male or female and have love and compassion for each other but two on a business end of it this is a huge area of Finance why a company wouldn't have done this earlier I don't know. Now there are thousands of independent future films and short films which are just the same as this. But it's nice to have a bigger budget film finally put this to screen and into theaters. It needs that support for the fact that it's just a beautiful film. And of course for the fact of helping the queer community and not looking down at them.

Just when you think this 2022 dramedy will succumb to predictable tropes that harken back to "Love Story" and "Brian's Song", director Michael Showalter does something quite unexpected whether it's the persistent use of a 1980's-era sitcom or the meet-cute set-up that felt like it came from the same spandex-heavy era. The title is a cheeky reference to the inevitable conclusion of this love story, but it's the quirky way he and co-writers David Marshall Grant and Dan Savage handle the otherwise somber material. Based on Michael Ausiello's real-life relationship with photographer Kit Cowan, it follows their fourteen years together in episodic fashion but forsakes heavy scene chewing for more subtle character development. Not all of the scenes work, but the performances resonate. As Michael, Jim Parsons doesn't shed years of playing Sheldon but moves quite effectively into emotionally complex territory even if his Shirley MacLaine moment came across a bit forced. No stranger to this genre, Sally Field plays Kit's mother with touching grace and strength, and her triathlete aspirations reminded me how she could run to Texas and back but not Shelby in "Steel Magnolias". However, the film's real standout is Ben Aldridge as Kit. His magnetic presence lends a natural charm to the comedy scenes, and he brings genuine pathos to the most devastating moments. This is definitely an actor to watch in the future.

Most LGBTQ movies you see are riddled with stereotypes, sex and falsehoods. This is one that doesn't fall into those things, but shows you a genuine adult homosexual relationship and how it truly is. The good times and the hard times, this film doesn't pull it's emotional punches. Bring tissues, you will need them for the final act that, while sad, isn't meant to be spirit breaking. Instead, I felt it was uplifting. While it does get off to a rocky start by just throwing us into this story, it quickly grows on you after the initial start. I don't particularly care for Jim Parsons but I felt he was perfect for the role and the chemistry he eventually attains with the other lead is palpable and felt. Highly recommended, as it's one of the most true to life depictions of a gay relationship.

4.5 heartbreaks out of 5.

Perhaps I'm biased because the two leads, Parsons and Aldridge, did a QA at my theater but I enjoyed this film a lot. It was a heartfelt romance movie that was very humorous too, with comedy sprinkled even amidst the horribly sad parts. Ben Aldridge gave a spectacular performance throughout, displaying his range impeccably. That this was inspired by a book-and the actors mention drawing immensely from the original source material and relics of Kit Cowan-made this story all the more compelling. I laughed, cried, all of it, at this movie. It wasn't exceptional, nothing stood out in monumental ways, but as far as good holiday romance movies go, this is up there.

Given the jokey title,"Spoiler Alert," I expected very little from this movie, but it proved to be a pleasant surprise from start to finish, from the clever device of the flashbacks in sitcom frames to the excellent acting by a wonderful cast. Main characters Michael and Kit are very real young men, each with his own history and issues with coming out as gay. Jim Parsons does a beautiful, nuanced job portraying Michael, and there's the extra layer of Michael being portrayed by Jim Parsons, former star of a popular sitcom, telling about the pain of growing up in sitcom-staged scenes. The way that Kit's parents embraced him and his relationship with Michael was well done, thanks to the intelligent script and the performances of Sally Field and Bill Irwin.

This is a love story, heartfelt, funny, and affirming. Well-written and finely acted -- I recommend it.