I completely forgot I watched this movie. I’m not even exaggerating. Michael Showalter’s “Spoiler Alert” was screened a few weeks ago, but the review embargo has only lifted now. It’s a total tearjerker, in the very worst sense of the term.
Showalter directed one above-average movie in his filmmaking career: 2016’s “The Big Sick” which was really driven by Kumail Nanjiani’s comic wit and screenplay contribution. He also co-wrote the cult classic “Wet Hot American Summer.”
Showalter’s other directorial credits are “The Baxter,” “Hello, My Name is Doris,” “The Lovebirds,” and last year’s “The Eyes of Tammy Faye.” Contrary to that last movie mentioned, Jim Parsons, who stars in “Spoiler Alert,” will not win a lead acting Oscar.
“Spoiler Alert” is a gay cancer romance that tracks the final 11-months of photographer Kit Cowan's life, from his diagnosis with the terminal disease to his death, all seen through the eyes of his lover. It’s at 40% on Rotten Tomatoes and sits at 55 on Metacritic. Too kind. The fact that I barely remember this movie says it all.