IMDb RATING
7.3/10
8.9K
YOUR RATING
The story of Michael Ausiello and Kit Cowan's relationship, which takes a tragic turn when Cowan is diagnosed with terminal cancer.The story of Michael Ausiello and Kit Cowan's relationship, which takes a tragic turn when Cowan is diagnosed with terminal cancer.The story of Michael Ausiello and Kit Cowan's relationship, which takes a tragic turn when Cowan is diagnosed with terminal cancer.
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- Awards
- 1 win & 6 nominations total
Eleni Yiovas
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Summary
Reviewers say 'Spoiler Alert' is an emotional film exploring love, loss, and acceptance. It authentically portrays a gay relationship, highlighting its complexities. Jim Parsons and Ben Aldridge are praised for their chemistry and depth. The film balances humor and tragedy, leaving a lasting impression. Sally Field and Bill Irwin’s supporting roles are also noted. Audiences find it a touching, realistic depiction of love, resonating deeply.
Featured reviews
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.
This is a love story, heartfelt, funny, and affirming. Well-written and finely acted -- I recommend it.
"Spoiler Alert" tells the story of Michael (played by Jim Parsons), a shy and guarded pop-culture junkie who is hesitant to explore the gay bar scene in Manhattan. However, on a rare night out with a colleague from TV Guide, he meets Kit (played by Ben Aldridge), the man who ends up being the love of his life. Kit has the confidence and coolness that Michael wishes he had, and the two begin a relationship.
Throughout the film, the chemistry between Parsons and Aldridge is electric, and their witty banter is a highlight. The film does a good job of showing the lovable sides of both characters, and you can see why they would fall so deeply in love. However, the film also covers the struggles of long-term relationships, including ordinary spats and more serious health issues.
While the film follows the typical tragic ending for LGBTQ+ movies, it is still a sweet and touching dramedy that will resonate with audiences. Director Michael Showalter incorporates some surreal elements into the film, but they don't quite work as well as the realistic and true-to-life details. Overall, "Spoiler Alert" is a well-acted and heartfelt film that is worth watching.
Throughout the film, the chemistry between Parsons and Aldridge is electric, and their witty banter is a highlight. The film does a good job of showing the lovable sides of both characters, and you can see why they would fall so deeply in love. However, the film also covers the struggles of long-term relationships, including ordinary spats and more serious health issues.
While the film follows the typical tragic ending for LGBTQ+ movies, it is still a sweet and touching dramedy that will resonate with audiences. Director Michael Showalter incorporates some surreal elements into the film, but they don't quite work as well as the realistic and true-to-life details. Overall, "Spoiler Alert" is a well-acted and heartfelt film that is worth watching.
I gotta admit that I only watched the movie because it got a good review and I was totally under the impression that it was a comedy. At first, probably the first third of the movie was walking very close to the land of gay-cliché but somehow every moment when it got close to be like that, it didn't. Then, it turned into such a touching drama that I didn't see coming despite the opening scene. The crying scene at the doctor office was one of most heartbreaking scenes I have been in a while because it was so quiet and so real. It was very well-made and well-acted movie that gave a full spectrum of emotions from the beginning to the end. At the end, I was in the verge of crying but I didn't. Instead, I feel deeply moved and I thought it was even better than crying.
Ben Aldridge and Jim Parsons made one hell of an adorable and believable couple. Ben Aldridge in particularly was terrific in his role. He acted with such a confidence and sensibility that was so engaging. Jim Parsons was as reliable as ever as an actor. Also, Sally Field AKA the best mom in movies since Forrest Gump was sweet as a pie and brought such a warm tough to the movie that I enjoyed immensely. Well-done for whoever casted them for their roles.
I want to say I'm a bit sad that some people will watch at this movie and think "oh it is a tragic gay movie" and focus on the gay part. We can all recognize it is a movie about a gay couple and that is an important part of the story. However, ultimately, the movie is about love, loss and most importantly acceptance not just about their sexual orientations but also the unexpected moments in life. C'est la vie.
Ben Aldridge and Jim Parsons made one hell of an adorable and believable couple. Ben Aldridge in particularly was terrific in his role. He acted with such a confidence and sensibility that was so engaging. Jim Parsons was as reliable as ever as an actor. Also, Sally Field AKA the best mom in movies since Forrest Gump was sweet as a pie and brought such a warm tough to the movie that I enjoyed immensely. Well-done for whoever casted them for their roles.
I want to say I'm a bit sad that some people will watch at this movie and think "oh it is a tragic gay movie" and focus on the gay part. We can all recognize it is a movie about a gay couple and that is an important part of the story. However, ultimately, the movie is about love, loss and most importantly acceptance not just about their sexual orientations but also the unexpected moments in life. C'est la vie.
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.
Did you know
- TriviaIn a December 2022 article for the Daily Beast, Kevin Fallon reported that in Michael Ausiello's capacity as a TV reporter for publications including TV Guide, Entertainment Weekly, and TVLine, Ausiello had interviewed Jim Parsons several times over the years that Parsons starred on The Big Bang Theory (2007). When Ausiello's source memoir was released in 2017, Ausiello asked Parsons to moderate a Los Angeles Q&A session on it, and when Parsons read the book to prepare for the panel, his husband, Todd Spiewak, found him sobbing in their living room. Spiewak suggested to Parsons that if he had such a strong emotional reaction to the story, he should option it for the movies - which is what they ended up doing together (both Parsons and Spiewak are producers).
- GoofsImmediately before Michael and Kit lie down under their first Christmas tree, there are several presents underneath. When they lie down, there are no presents.
- Quotes
Kit Cowan: I'm... I'm gay.
[Marilyn looks at Michael]
Michael Ausiello: I'm gay, too.
Kirby: I am also gay.
[Kit looks at Kirby conforming]
Kirby: I am.
- ConnectionsFeatured in The View: Sally Field/12 Days of Holidays (2022)
- How long is Spoiler Alert?Powered by Alexa
Details
Box office
- Gross US & Canada
- $1,384,003
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $82,983
- Dec 4, 2022
- Gross worldwide
- $1,434,850
- Runtime1 hour 52 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1
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