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A14 PEOPLE / ARTS
Thursday 8 december 2022
Review: ‘Spoiler Alert’ — You’re gonna need those Kleenex

By JOCELYN NOVECK having dinner and talking
AP National Writer about their lives. Truth is,
In one of the more effec- there is little that ostensibly
tive moments of “Spoiler links these two not their
Alert,” the camera does jobs, not their family cir-
something unexpected cumstances, certainly not
and wise: it leaves the Michael’s obsession with
room. At the very moment the Smurfs, though we’re
a dining-table conversa- getting ahead of ourselves
tion becomes unbear- there. But chemistry works
ably painful, the viewer is in mysterious ways. Soon
moved outside, where we they’re at Kit’s apartment,
can only watch the char- awkwardly hooking up.
acters in shadows through Well, awkwardly for Mi-
a window, hearing nothing. chael, who’s way less com-
We don’t need to hear fortable, and explains that
the words. We know that he is a FFK (former fat kid)
Kit (Ben Aldridge) and his and thus has body issues.
boyfriend Michael (Jim In case you can’t quite
Parsons) are telling Kit’s picture this, we have a run-
parents (a heartbreaking ning motif where Michael’s
Sally Field and Bill Irwin) youth is depicted as an old-
that their handsome, char- fashioned sitcom a device
ismatic son has a likely fa- This image released by Focus Features shows Jim Parsons, left, and Ben Aldridge in a scene from that feels clever at first, but
tal disease. We know them “Spoiler Alert.” Associated Press wears thin.
all well enough to fill in the Anyway, soon Kit has given
blanks. us from the characters and It’s no crime to be the latter, colleague has dragged Michael closet space in his
It’s a moment of admira- their plight just when we’re but the film often reminds him out, and now he sees apartment.
ble restraint, in a film that feeling the most com- us that it seeks to be the Kit across the dance floor, When Kit comes down with
doesn’t always make that mitted to them. At times former. In any case, bring and he’s gorgeous, so, appendicitis (unrelated to
choice. While often deeply “Spoiler Alert” feels like an those Kleenex because well, that’s that. (Aldridge later health issues) his par-
moving, “Spoiler Alert,” di- edgy, clever film that plays you’ll need them. You WILL IS impossibly charming if ents insist on coming to
rected by Michael Showal- wittily on the main charac- cry. That much is a given. you don’t know this actor New York, and this results
ter and based on the rela- ter’s lifelong obsession with We witness the couple’s first already you will probably, in a hilarious attempt by
tionship memoir by Michael TV. At others, it feels like a meeting at a bar. Michael, like me, start randomly Michael to “de-gay” Kit’s
Ausiello, seems at times more formulaic, holiday- a journalist who covers tele- Googling “Tell me about apartment (did we men-
unable to decide what themed tearjerker the vision (Parsons both stars Ben Aldridge.” And spoiler tion? Kit hasn’t come out
kind of film it is, resulting in passing years are marked and produces), is hardly alert! he’s British and to- to his parents yet.) That
a number of jarring tonal in a Christmas card mon- one for bars. He’s a “work tally nails the American ac- “Beaches” DVD? Gone.
shifts particularly one at the tage! that wrings our tears late, get up early guy” and cent.) “When Harry Met Sally” too.
very end, which distances in unsubtle ways. sticks to Diet Coke. But a Soon after, the two are And much more.q

2 Chainz hosts Amazon Music live concerts using NFL platform

By JONATHAN LANDRUM Jr. including his verse on DJ artists who are able to ac- “You’re going to be in cer- me for roles like this, where
AP Entertainment Writer Khaled’s “God Did.” cess one of the biggest tain living rooms that you I’m on the other side of the
LOS ANGELES (AP) — 2 Rapper A$AP Rocky will hit platforms on TV, with ‘Thurs- may or may not be privi- desk,” he said. “With host-
Chainz wants to capitalize the stage Thursday, and day Night Football’ hav- leged to be in,” 2 Chainz ing, I’m still holding a mi-
off the NFL’s huge “Thurs- Brazilian singer Anitta is ex- ing so many viewers, com- said. “I think it helps the crophone. So, it’s still very
day Night Football” plat- pected to perform next ing on after the game,” 2 overall bigger picture as far much a part of the DNA
form to feature some of the week. Chainz said about the con- as sports and music fusing that I’m accustomed to.
world’s most popular musi- “This is a huge benefit for cert series. together.” ... like being on stage and
cal performers on Amazon In each episode, 2 Chainz rocking out.”
Music’s live concert series. interviews the featured 2 Chainz said Amazon
The Grammy winner is the artist. He usually reads the reached out to him and
host of “Amazon Music questions off a teleprompt- his team about a “new vi-
Live,” a weekly live show er, but he sometimes throws sion” of marrying the worlds
that streams on Prime Vid- in his own topics as well. of football and music. The
eo after “Thursday Night 2 Chainz credits Vice TV’s idea was birthed after Am-
Football.” It is filmed each “Most Expensivest’’ for azon and the NFL entered
week in front of a live au- readying him for the chal- into an 11-year agreement
dience in Los Angeles. The lenge of the concert series. to air the prime-time pro-
concert series, which de- He hosts the reality series fessional football games on
buted in late October with that explores the most ex- the streaming service.
guest Lil Baby, has also pensive items such as food, The rapper said a strong re-
featured Megan Thee Stal- jewelry and drinks. The rap- lationship was already built
lion and Kane Brown. Last per said he just wrapped between him and Ama-
month, 2 Chainz took the 2 Chainz poses for a portrait on Friday, Nov. 4, 2022, in Los filming his fourth season. zon Music after partnering
stage with Lil Wayne, who Angeles. “That show, I think, has to rollout a couple of his
performed some of his hits, Associated Press grown me and prepared albums.q