This is a widely held belief for numerous people that jointly caring for a canine companion following a split is a recipe for trouble. Experts frequently claim such setups hinder individuals from finding closure, cause practical headaches, fuel disputes, and prove frustrating for everyone involved. Seemingly, and in a twist worthy of a streaming movie, it also makes our furry friends to experience sadness.
Not to downplay the emotional well-being of dogs – pet parents speak of their remarkable empathy. For a prime example in canine melancholy, one need only look a past film. I firmly believe that a dog of Merv's nature, a spirited little dog portrayed by Gus the Dog, would have a hard time adapting to split households. The idea of basing an entire Christmas romance on this conflict works effectively remains a questionable prospect.A Familiar Formula
Fairness demands noting, Merv, written by its screenwriters and directed by Jessica Swale, never aspires to be deeper than its premise. It functions as a seasonal offering from a corporate studio – the depth are modest. The narrative is destined to be straightforward: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their individual funk is rivaled only by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a dog-friendly resort. There, inevitably, they will surely stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. Side characters – played by familiar faces – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic carries the feel of a streaming service original, with a Christmas setting that is visibly contrived – exemplified by obvious snow effects piled on green trees as a warm climate stands in for the Northeast.
Where the Film Shines
If these familiar elements merge into an entertaining watch hinges on the execution and one's taste for cinematic comfort food. Regarding the second aspect, Merv knows its audience – the kind who scroll endlessly for pet content. The film delivers a series of scenes focused on the pet. The central draw is the canine star, and while this leads to some stilted moments between the pet's "lines" and people's faces, the movie succeeds in showing walking sequences, pet moping, and, in the end, pure puppy happiness.
The Two-Legged Cast
The same praise is not earned for the interpersonal drama. The tone shifts uneasily between serious study, zany antics, predictable love story, and physical comedy, never fully committing to a single genre. No blame falls on the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the silliness and cringe demanded of the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a charming humility that provides a significant portion of the appeal for this ostensibly perfect couple. Zooey Deschanel, true to her usual style, imparts a particular brand of eccentricity that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna seems a little too aloof, particularly when alongside Cox's vulnerable performance. (It should be noted, the canine performer succeeds in flopping and whining – not quite Messi from that acclaimed drama, he is still an excellent dog.)
Merv tries to provide depth to Anna and Russ's relationship for sequences focusing solely on them – which is unfortunate, given that the dog is undoubtedly the cutest element of this cute-aiming movie. Unsurprisingly, it just about gets by. The catalyst for the split could have been more nuanced with greater exploration and less blunt explanation. Ultimately, Merv is light and sugary, fulfilling precisely what you anticipate. Crafting a story with this canine conflict isn't a bad idea – though it's not exactly a stroke of genius.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video on December 10th.
