You probably know what happens in the movie 'Spoiler Alert'. Bring some tissues anyway

There’s not much to spoil when it comes to “Spoiler Alert.”

Especially if you’ve seen the trailer, which uses most of the film’s funniest bits (if you haven’t seen it yet, maybe consider holding off). It’s no secret that the hero dies — courtesy of the 2018 memoir that the movie is based on, Michael Ausiello’s “Spoiler Alert: The Hero Dies” — leaving protagonist Michael (Jim Parsons) a widower after his longtime boyfriend Kit’s (Ben Aldridge) year-long battle with cancer.

But knowing how the couple’s story ends, in real life as well as in the film, doesn’t detract from the experience of watching the movie. It’s a beautifully balanced and well-paced film that knows when to be brutally honest and when to give viewers a moment of reprieve.

The biggest reveal, really, is how much love these characters exude amid the most trying circumstances.

Cast brings its all to ‘Spoiler Alert’

Fittingly, the heartbreaking but unavoidable end of Kit and Michael’s relationship is disclosed at the beginning of “Spoiler Alert.” (You’ll have to make it through nearly two hours to get the full impact of their final hours together, though.)

But as they say, it’s more about the journey than the destination.

Michael from the future narrates and takes us back to the beginning of their story, when he and Kit met in 2001. Michael is a TV journalist — affectionately dubbed a “tall dweeb” by Kit’s friend, Nina (Nikki M. James) — who has residual trauma from his mom dying from cancer when he was a child. Kit is a self-assured photographer who hasn’t come out to his parents since he realized he was gay right after college.

Despite their trepidation due to lack of experience in committed relationships, they find themselves getting each other Christmas presents, making space in their apartments for the other’s belongings and being useful when one of them has an unexpected hospital stay (before the “C” word is ever used).

Michael is “worried that I’m going to fall in love with you, and you’re going to break my heart.”

Of course, that doesn’t stop either of things from happening.

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‘Spoiler Alert’ knows when to pull back

A dozen Christmases go by. Their relationship isn’t picture-perfect: Kit smokes too much pot (says Michael) and Michael drinks too much wine (Kit claims), but they’re still together — even if that just means living under the same roof.

That’s around the time that Kit starts feeling like there’s a “golf ball” lodged up his rectum. As they try to find answers for this medical mystery, Kit appears at ease while Michael’s anxiety reminds him about his mother’s health issues decades ago.

Turns out, it’s a neuroendocrine tumor. And they should address it with chemotherapy and radiation as soon as possible.

Kit and Michael have overcome overbearing parents, health scares and jealousy together over the course of a decade — and now they must face life-threatening news together.

As the couple navigates this cruel terrain, a tight circle of friends — including Kit’s former roommate (Sadie Scott), one of the characters that consistently brings levity to the story — as well as Kit’s parents, Marilyn (Sally Field) and Bob (Bill Irwin), steadfastly fights alongside them.

It might be difficult to convince audiences to watch a movie about an aggressive cancer diagnosis that throws a wrench into what was supposed to be a long, true love. But there’s some consolation in that lighthearted humor is speckled throughout “Spoiler Alert” — and the way Ausiello tells the story of their love — as the filmmakers ease off the gas pedal on a journey with a certain devastating destination.

“Spoiler Alert” makes you grateful that Kit and Michael’s love ever existed. It makes you angry that they have to accept such unfair circumstances at a relatively young age.

It’s a reminder to not waste time. And though Kit did end up breaking Michael’s heart after all, you won’t see Michael regretting a thing.

'Spoiler Alert' 4 stars

Great ★★★★★ Good ★★★★

Fair ★★★ Bad ★★ Bomb ★

Director: Michael Showalter.

Cast: Jim Parsons, Ben Aldridge, Sally Field, Bill Irwin.

Rating: PG-13.

Note: In theaters in Phoenix on Dec. 9.

Reach Entertainment Reporter KiMi Robinson at kimi.robinson@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @kimirobin and Instagram @ReporterKiMi.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: 'Spoiler Alert': Why knowing the ending doesn't ruin the movie