PLOT: Spoiler Alert tells the love story of Michael Ausiello and Kit Cowan and the heartbreaking turn it takes with Kit’s battle with terminal cancer.
REVIEW: Tragedy and romance go hand in hand in Hollywood. From the Golden Age on, the lovestruck couple facing impossible odds can often connect with audiences on a deeply emotional level. When you look at films like Beaches or Steel Magnolias, the appeal is the drama and the cast. And now, in the new movie Spoiler Alert, we have a romantic tale that is very aware of previous ones that have come before it. The film stars Jim Parsons and Ben Aldridge as two men who fall deeply in love and share their life together before tragedy comes calling. It’s a heartfelt film with fine performances from the two leads and co-stars, Sally Field and Bill Irwin.
Michael Ausiello (Parsons) is a nice guy who writes about television. While at a club one night, he instantly connects with the charming Kit Cowan (Aldridge). The two soon fall madly in love and delve into a serious, committed relationship. Yet, as they grow closer, Kit discovers he has terminal cancer. The film chronicles this true story as Michael must deal with the struggles of facing the loss of a loved one while not having any rights at the time. It’s a personal and heartbreaking account of a real-life relationship. Based on the book written by Michael Ausiello – founder of TVLine – this is a sweet tale that offers a possible “spoiler alert” by the book’s title.
Spoiler Alert is adapted from Ausiello’s account of his story by Dan Savage and David Marshall Grant (star of the eighties cult classic American Flyers). While the film certainly doesn’t shy away from serious and relevant issues, it’s still a love story. Happily, the film finds a good balance between a sappy tearjerker and a meta love story. The film may not go to the lengths of something Scream did for Halloween, but it still has some Beaches for fun. And with Ausiello, a real-life TV nerd, the script makes good use of clever references. Even still, the story wouldn’t work if we didn’t find the relationship on-screen believable. Is it? Read on.
Taking on a more dramatic role is a nice change for Mr. Parsons. The comedic actor who rose to popularity with ‘Sheldon’ on Big Bang Theory gives a far more intimate performance here. His take on Ausiello is awkward, vulnerable, and, yes, geeky in a big way. As the real inspiration behind this story, Aldridge is a perfect choice to play opposite Parsons. Ben brings charisma and heart to Kit. It’s a terrific performance, one that works incredibly well opposite Parsons. I enjoyed spending time with these two. Yet truthfully, knowing exactly where the film is leading can be a difficult journey for viewers who have recently lost someone.
Directed by Michael Showalter – a filmmaker especially adept at comedy – brings a sense of sweetness to this story. Like he did with The Big Sick, Michael balances the mix of tragedy and humor well. While Spoiler Night might not feel as inventive or original as his previous effort, it certainly packs an emotional punch. It also helps to have heavyweights such as Sally Field and Bill Irwin. These incredible talents bring such warmth to Kit’s parents that I looked forward to every moment they were on screen. The performances here are satisfying, as is the sweet story told. It may seep into the sentimentality of the similar films that came before it, but that doesn’t make it ineffective in its charms.
Spoiler Alert is a solid romantic drama. While it was great to see Jim Parsons step out of his comfort zone, his co-star, Ben Aldridge, stands out as Kit. The actor effortlessly brings charm and heart to his work. The two have a pleasant and comfortable chemistry, sometimes making the sad film more difficult to watch. And then there is the great Sally Field and Bill Irwin, both of whom brought tears and laughter in excess. I admire the film’s directness in its approach to Michael and Kit’s battle for survival. While Spoiler Alert has a little fun with previous heartbreakers, it’s still simply a weepy romance inspired by them. And that’s not a bad thing.