This is a widely held belief for numerous people that jointly caring for a dog after a breakup is a terrible idea. The consensus suggests such situations impede ex-partners from finding closure, lead to scheduling chaos, lead to tension, and prove frustrating for all parties. As it turns out, and in a twist suited to a streaming movie, it can even cause the dogs themselves to feel down.
While respecting the mental health of dogs – pet parents observe their profound sensitivity. For a prime example in dog sorrow, one need only look a past film. I firmly believe that a dog of Merv's nature, a scruffy terrier type brought to life by the canine actor Gus, would find it difficult adjusting to divided living arrangements. Whether this premise an entire Christmas romance on this conflict works effectively remains a questionable prospect.Standard Holiday Fare
To its credit, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and directed by playwright Jessica Swale, never aspires to be more profound than its premise. We have here a seasonal offering from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the ambitions is limited. The narrative proves to be simple and direct: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their own sadness is matched by their dog's, decide on a cheer-up vacation to a canine-centric retreat. There, inevitably, they will presumably realize the idea that they should reunite. The supporting cast – played by familiar faces – fulfill roles eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Visually carries the feel of a branded content, with a Christmas setting that is clearly manufactured – as seen in fake snow piled on verdant foliage as a summer location substitutes for a wintery Boston.
The Canine Charisma
How these predictable parts come together into a pleasant experience hinges on the execution and the viewer's appetite for cinematic comfort food. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – individuals who seek out for pet content. The film delivers a plethora of canine-centric sequences. The central draw is the dog, and even if it causes some awkward editing between animal action and the actors' responses, the movie delivers on walking sequences, pet moping, and, finally, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Two-Legged Cast
Such effectiveness cannot be applied for the human side of the story. The tone wavers between serious study, wacky comedy, standard rom-com beats, and physical comedy, never fully committing to any one mode. This is not Cox's performance, who is fully game the silliness and cringe demanded of the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a charming humility that provides much of the film's charm for this on-the-rocks couple. Zooey Deschanel, true to her usual style, injects a distinctive offbeat energy that will click for some but not others. The character can feel a touch too detached, especially when alongside Cox's vulnerable performance. (On another note, Merv himself is convincing at acting depressed – not quite Messi from that acclaimed drama, he's definitely an excellent dog.)
The film attempts to add substance to Anna and Russ's relationship for moments when the dog is absent – a regrettable choice, since the title character is easily the cutest element of this feel-good picture. As one might predict, it meets the bare minimum. The reason for their original breakup might seem more nuanced with greater exploration and less blunt explanation. Ultimately, Merv is slight and sweet, fulfilling precisely what you anticipate. Creating a movie on this shared-custody premise is not terrible – though it's hardly a great one either.
- Merv premieres on Amazon Prime Video starting December 10.
