Spoiler Alert

As heartfelt as it might be, there aren’t enough surprises in Spoiler Alert to justify revealing any spoilers.

Other than the sexuality of its central couple, this tearjerker feels like a relationship arc we’ve seen many times before, from the meet-cute all the way to the terminal illness.

As a result, this adaptation of the memoir by entertainment journalist Michael Ausiello feels sincere yet calculated, enabling moviegoers to witness his joy and pain without experiencing it on a more visceral level.

The true-life saga opens in early 2000s New York with a familiar romantic comedy scenario, as television critic Michael (Jim Parsons) and photographer Kit (Ben Aldridge) meet when opposites attract at a bar.

That leads to dinner and a hookup, and eventually a quirky long-term relationship. “You always felt like premium cable to my network sitcom,” Michael surmises after arguing for “Felicity” being his favorite series and trying to rationalize his obsessive collection of Smurfs memorabilia.

Along the way, there’s a charming intimacy to the way they expose and offer comfort for each other’s insecurities. Michael has major body-image issues and other neuroses and Kit projects self-confidence but hasn’t come out to his chatty mom (Sally Field) and more pragmatic dad (Bill Irwin).

More than a decade of mostly happy times later, Kit feels a pain in his abdomen, and a dire diagnosis forces him to confront his mortality as his commitment to Michael is tested like never before.

Parsons (Hidden Figures) and Aldridge (“Pennyworth”) generate a convincing chemistry with endearing performances that garner sympathy for Michael and Kit’s circumstances.

As directed by Michael Showalter (The Big Sick), some scattered laughs help offset the predictable nature of the script’s life-affirming message about the value of family and emotional support systems.

Plus, a recurring fantasy framing device in which Michael views his life through a TV lens as a coping mechanism doesn’t resonate as strongly as it should.

Awkwardly juggling its comedic and dramatic elements, Spoiler Alert might connect with those who have endured the cancer journey with loved ones. However, by emphasizing why Michael and Kit are ordinary rather than unique, the film isn’t as harrowing or heartwarming as intended.

Rated PG-13, 112 minutes.