SPOILER ALERT

US, 2022, 112 minutes, Colour.

Jim Parsons, Ben Aldridge, Sally Field, Bill Irwin, Brody Caines, Tara Summers.

Directed by Michael Showalter.

This has all the ingredients of a romantic comedy but, also, the film opening with its own spoiler alert, a film about terminal illness.

This time the focus is on a couple, Mike and Kit, Jim Parsons and Ben Aldridge.

Mike is a TV interviewer and writer, quite workaholic. The film uses an entertaining device to give Mike’s background, seeing his life as a boy, fat boy, as a television sitcom, he the star, coming home, centre screen, interactions with his mother and his rather slacker older brother. And with a taped audience laughter track. These are inserted throughout the film as Mike thinks about himself and assesses his life.

Kit, on the other hand, is outgoing, professional photographer, pleasant company. In fact, they meet at a gay bar where Mike is very reticent, Kit friendly, and, with Mike doing a voice-over narration throughout the film, he explains that this was his falling in love. The two men are very different. Mike is a variation on Jim Parsons’ television screen persona, somewhat neurotic, prissy and mannerisms. Kit is easy-going but, as we saw early in the spoiler alert, it is he who will have the terminal illness.

The film has various variations on the romcom genre, the contrast between the two apartments, Mike’s absolutely full (an understatement) of Smurfs, toys, a lifetime’s collection and indulgence on eBay, all the commercial goods. Kit’s is just ordinary. They continue with their work. A variation on an odd couple. The years pass, the years indicated by a collage of Christmas cards and greetings, in fact, over a decade. But, with guests at Christmas dinner praising them for their being together, there are some revelations about the tensions between the two, some living apart, visits to the therapist (amusing in their way each with their different personality trying to explain themselves to the therapist) – and an interesting final comment by the therapist that while they might love each other, they are also resentful of each other.

And the issues of coming out? Mike has been out all the time, family acceptance. Kit has not been able to confide in his parents. When he is in hospital with appendicitis, they come to visit. His mother is an absolute whirlwind, dominating, ordering everyone about, including her genially submissive husband. The mother, Marilyn, is a latter-day star vehicle for Sally Field and she makes the most of it, gradually moderating. Husband Bob, Bill Irwin, is happy to go along with what his wife orders, not put down in the least. Later, the audience will see them again, especially on a holiday at the coast that Mike organises as Kit is convalescing.

While there is the scene of the gay club at the beginning of the film, more or less as seen in any other film, Spoiler Alert moves away from movie stereotypes of gay men and gay behaviour, enabling the wider audience to empathise with the two.

And, how to deal with terminal cancer? Mike is dismayed, fussy, intervening with doctors, wanting remedies. Kit, on the other hand, is generally calm, more accepting, though not without his sadness and apprehensions. And, suddenly a marriage proposal, a ceremony (very brief with an exceedingly offhand and seemingly uninterested judge) at City Hall.

It means that the dying sequence, which we know is going to happen, is all the sadder, the audience by now emotionally involved, Kit in hospital, his parents coming for his death, Mike and his grief. There is a disconcerting moment in the screenplay when Kit’s illness suddenly becomes part of a television show and Mike a television interviewer – but, back to the sadness of the reality, and Mike able to understand kit, his illness and suffering, and his own grief and of further bonding with Marilyn.

Based on a true story, a book, and its author, Michael Ausiello serving as writer and executive producer.

1. A true story, the original book, the author and his contact with Jim Parsons, the idea to make a film? The author as executive producer?
2. The New York story, journalists and TV coverage, photographers, the gay bar, gay friends? The musical score?
3. The spoiler alert at the beginning, Kit and his illness, dying? Mike, the voice-over, the personal investment in telling the story, the various stages of the story, the detail, his own observations?
4. The device of having the television show, Mike and his memories, the young Mike, his mother, fat, brother and sister, the home situations, the comedy, the live audience laughter? Insertion throughout the film?
5. Mike, his work, diligent, invited to the bar, standing aside, observing, seeing Kit and Nina, Kit approaching him, persuading Mike to dance? Going to Kit’s place, the encounter, Mike and his observations, falling in love?
6. Mike, his personality, more than a touch of the neurotic, prissy manner, the effect of falling in love with Kit, being together? His memories through the television sitcom? The growing bond between the two?
7. Kit, his personality, outgoing, strong, attracted to Mike, the visit to Mike’s apartment, all the Smur’s? The different personalities, yet their bonding?
8. Their life together, the years passing, the device of the Christmas greetings?
9. The ups and downs of the relationship, Kit and his being with Sebastian, not telling the truth to Mike, Mike and his suspicions, upset? The Christmas dinner, being praised for being together, the telling the truth, the separations?
10. The various therapy sessions, the different issues, the different sessions, the contribution of each, complaints, the therapist, his comment about their love for each other despite presenting each other?
11. Kit, not revealing that he was gay to his parents, Kit and his appendicitis, the visit of his parents, the puzzle about Mike?
12. The parents, mother and her dominance, intervening, telling Bob what to do, his being genial, not put off by Marilyn’s persistence? Parking the car and the difficulties, the visit to Kit, the puzzle about Mike? Going back to Kit’s apartment, Kimberley there, flatmate, the puzzle about why Mike was there, that he knew where the blankets were…? And Kit finally coming out with the truth, the parents and their unexpected sympathetic reaction?
13. Kit, the growths, going to the doctor, Mike, apprehensive, ultra-nervous, intervening, the contrast with Kit accepting? The biopsy, the various doctors, the hopes, the doctor who stated that was severe? The chemotherapy and the consequences, the radiation and the relief? Going to the ocean, Bob and Marilyn joining them, the happy times of the sea?
14. Kit and his deterioration, Mike and his making parent friends with the parents, the meal together and Kit’s announcement, Marilyn her chatter about the racing, covering her grief, the glimpse of her weeping?
15. The sudden decision to marry, going to the courthouse, the offhand manner of the judge, yet their happiness?
16. Kit, deteriorating, the increase of growths, the time limit, in hospital, Marilyn and Bob coming, Mike and his grief, the nurse saying that Kit could hear everything, the parents and their farewell, Mike and his farewell, lying with Bob? His death?
17. The funeral, Mike and his eulogy, conversation with Marilyn afterwards?
18. The false ending, the television show, Kit as the actor, being interviewed by Mike, the urgency to get back to camera, the questions, the dramatisation of how Kit felt and his being able to let go?
19. The sadness of the ending, the pathos, the story of an odd couple, a gay couple, ups and downs, love, death?