Spoiler Alert

With a name like this and the film starting with what's going to happen; knowing how this couple's story ends still doesn't dilute the impact of watching this tearjerker of a movie. A good balance of drama and comedy and love and romance, the film knows when to be brutally honest within the characters and to its audience. There is always more to life's journey than the finale, which is how the film begins. With big names like Jim Parsons, involved, it was only befitting that I watch this film on big screen, my second queer film this year to watch in theaters.

Based on the memoirs of Michael Ausiello, editor-in-chief of TVLine; we are told the story by Michael from future who takes us back to the beginning of story of Michael and Kit. Michael is a TV journalist, a dream job of his, since him and his mother used to watch soaps on TV as a kid. But with his father and mother having having died of cancer, he has some sort of residual trauma. He meets the charming and dashing Kit at a nightclub and there is instant attraction. Kit is a self-assured photographer who hasn’t come out to his parents since he realized he was gay right after college. The duo start dating, each with his own insecurities and lack of experience in committed relationship, but they wanna try it out. In a funny sequence, we see Kit coming out to his parents who turn to be very supportive. The duo soon move in together, but their relationship isn't picture perfect. On a Christmas dinner 13 years since they met, we are told that they have started to live separately since they have been dealing with a lot of issues. Kit does to much pot and Michael has resorted too much wine drinking. Also Michael feels that Kit has been cheating on him with a handsome colleague of his. Just around then, Kit starts feeling like there’s a “golf ball” lodged up his rectum. Turns out it is neuroendocrine cancer. While Kit appears at ease while Michael’s anxiety reminds him about his mother’s health issues decades ago. They start to address this with chemo and radiation therapy, but turns out it is too late. As the couple navigates through this difficult terrain , they are supported by Kit's parents and their small circle of friends who stand by them steadfastly.

The film' subject is sad, with an inevitable death for its lead because of cancer, but thankfully the movie never becomes a sappy melodrama. Just the right amount of lighthearted humor is sprinkled throughout the film, be it Michael's life being told to us in a sitcom fashion, or their date evenings, or the scenes involving Kit's parents; there are plenty of those to balance things out. One of my favorite is when Michael meets Kit's parents for the first time and Kit comes out to them. It was refreshing to see the film handling the topic of body shaming, something that Michael's character deals with being a former fat kid. Its funny when we find out why Michael has been reluctant to take Kit to his apartment, since it is full of Smurf figurines. The conversation that follows where they both admit to being scared of falling in love reminds you of all those romantic true love films. Throughout, “Spoiler Alert” shows a maturity toward modern relationships, whether straight or queer, that’s refreshing and instructive. The scenes of the cancer diagnosis and subsequent treatment sessions and how Kit's health deteriorates over a period of time are the true soul which is when you are bound to choke up. 

As much as the film has positives and heart and everything in the right place, There were certain aspects of the film that I just wasn't able to connect. Even though we know the story of the couple and how it ends, The film didn't connect with me at an emotional level that it should have. I am not sure why. The only one scene which brought a lump to my throat was when Michael allows Sebastian (the guy who he thinks Kit cheated on with I'm) to visit a dying Kit and then they hug and Sebastian cries. Sebastian's feelings came out a more real than Michael. And as much as I love my Sheldon, Jim Parsons; I think he was the wrong choice for this role. First of all, I am not sure what has happened to his face but he looks so much older in this film. Not sure off this is the case of bad makeup or a case of cosmetic surgery gone wrong, but he come out as oddball. In contrast Ben Alridge's Kit is perfect as the actor. He plays the role which energy, liveliness, humor, handsomeness and everything that is expected of the character. His Kit is impossibly easy to fall for with all that charm and a big smile, while still being full of contradictions and difficulties that make themselves known as the first blushes of affection deepen and we watch the two men navigate the path of life lived together. Thankfully the chemistry between the two actors is good. In their tenderness, their bickering, their separation and their coming together, the duo imbues the story of Michael and Kit with a warming sentimentality. The fact that this is a true story establishes credibility and everyone's faith in true love despite ups and downs. We know the ending and we know its going to be sad, but its the way the 13 year journey is presented to us is what make this film stand apart. Filled with multiple Christmas scenes, someday consider this to be the quintessential Holiday movie, but this, according to me, is much beyond that.

This film makes you grateful that Kit and Michael’s love ever existed, but it also makes you angry that they have to accept such unfair circumstances at a relatively young age. And though Kit did end up breaking Michael’s heart after all, you won’t see Michael regretting a thing. It’s a reminder to not waste time. Tell the people you love, how much you love them. As far as the film goes, I am just a slightly disappointed by possibly the wrong casting for Michael's role, but besides that, I definitely strongly recommend this as this years tearjerker gay love story we have been waiting for. (8/10)