IMDb RATING
7.3/10
8.8K
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.
- Director
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- Stars
- Awards
- 1 win & 6 nominations total
Eleni Yiovas
- Night Nurse
- (as Ellen 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.
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.
4.5 heartbreaks out of 5.
I really enjoyed this movie. I am not gay, I am a straight woman so I can't say how well it portrays the gay lifestyle as others here have done but I can say it was done in a way that wasn't over the top or flamboyant the way most shows portraying gay men do.
My biggest surprise was Jim Parson's acting. I knew he was great on TBBT, but honestly didn't know if he had the acting chops to pull this part off. But oh yes he did, and then some. Everyone in this movie was top notch.
So why only 7 stars? I guess it's mostly because it wasn't the passionate romance tear-jerker I was led to believe it would be. Did they really have that great a love? I believe for any relationship to work you have to have the complete triad of love, trust and respect. Here, we had cheating (so you have lost trust and respect right there) and they drifted apart and broke up (so a lack of true devotional love). I felt the only reason they got back together was because Kit was dying. Would they have otherwise? It felt like most likely not.
So it lost much of the emotion punch that would come from truly losing the love of his life. It was a sad and emotional, but for me maybe not for the reasons that they tried to portray in this movie. I felt in the end that Michael lost his best friend more than he did someone he loved passionately at that point. Still very emotional but not overly heart-wrenching in that lost the love of my life way I think they were trying to go for.
But it was a good movie, the acting was top-notch, there was great chemistry between Parsons and Aldridge and I felt the pacing was very good. Well worth the watch!
My biggest surprise was Jim Parson's acting. I knew he was great on TBBT, but honestly didn't know if he had the acting chops to pull this part off. But oh yes he did, and then some. Everyone in this movie was top notch.
So why only 7 stars? I guess it's mostly because it wasn't the passionate romance tear-jerker I was led to believe it would be. Did they really have that great a love? I believe for any relationship to work you have to have the complete triad of love, trust and respect. Here, we had cheating (so you have lost trust and respect right there) and they drifted apart and broke up (so a lack of true devotional love). I felt the only reason they got back together was because Kit was dying. Would they have otherwise? It felt like most likely not.
So it lost much of the emotion punch that would come from truly losing the love of his life. It was a sad and emotional, but for me maybe not for the reasons that they tried to portray in this movie. I felt in the end that Michael lost his best friend more than he did someone he loved passionately at that point. Still very emotional but not overly heart-wrenching in that lost the love of my life way I think they were trying to go for.
But it was a good movie, the acting was top-notch, there was great chemistry between Parsons and Aldridge and I felt the pacing was very good. Well worth the watch!
Finally a movie that shows the ups and downs of love. The genders don't matter to me at all, it was refreshing to see love between two people in such a raw and real way. The high of the initial meeting and first dates, the awkward family meeting, the normal relationship struggles, and the power of love through the darkest of times. Many of us never experience that full level of commitment in a relationship. I don't care what you think about same sex relationships, this is a very raw and heartfelt connection between two people who love each other through multiple struggles. I felt so many emotions while watching this movie. Very well done!
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.
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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