This is an often-repeated piece of advice among many that jointly caring for a dog after a breakup is a terrible idea. The consensus suggests such arrangements hinder ex-partners from finding closure, create logistical nightmares, lead to tension, and are a nuisance for all parties. Seemingly, as a development suited to a streaming movie, it can even cause our furry friends to feel down.
While respecting the emotional well-being of dogs – pet parents speak of their remarkable empathy. To witness a masterclass in dog sorrow, simply recall recent cinema. It seems certain that a dog like Merv, a spirited little dog played by Gus the Dog, would have a hard time adjusting to life in two homes. The idea of basing an entire Christmas romance on such a setup works effectively is a questionable prospect.A Familiar Formula
Fairness demands noting, Merv, written by the writing duo and directed by Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims anything more than its premise. It functions as a holiday release from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the complexity are modest. The narrative unfolds as uncomplicated: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their individual funk is surpassed by their dog's, take a therapeutic trip to a dog-friendly resort. There, inevitably, they will undoubtedly stumble toward the idea that they are better together. Side characters – played by Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – serve as the usual assortment of types. Visually carries the feel of a branded content, with a Christmas setting that is obviously artificial – think obvious snow effects clinging to verdant foliage as a summer location doubles as the Northeast.
The Canine Charisma
How these standard ingredients merge into a pleasant experience depends on the strength of the performances and one's taste for cinematic comfort food. On the latter point, Merv targets a specific viewer – individuals who browse regularly for cute animal clips. It provides a wealth of canine-centric sequences. The central draw is the canine star, and even if it causes some clunky cuts between the pet's "lines" and people's faces, the movie does offer dog beach fun, canine sorrow, and, in the end, doggie joy.
Where It Wobbles
This level of success does not extend for the interpersonal drama. The film's approach wavers between relationship drama, wacky comedy, predictable love story, and physical comedy, never fully committing to a single genre. The fault lies not with Charlie Cox, who is admirably committed the humiliating and funny required by the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a endearing lack of ego that supplies much of the film's charm for this seemingly ideal couple. Anna's portrayer, as is her trademark, imparts a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. The character can feel a bit too dry, particularly when alongside Cox's genuine sadness. (On another note, Merv himself succeeds in acting depressed – not quite a canine thespian of that caliber, he remains an excellent dog.)
The story strives to provide depth to the central romance for sequences focusing solely on them – which is unfortunate, given that the title character is easily the best part of this film designed for charm. As one might predict, it achieves only baseline competence. The reason for the split would feel more nuanced with less exposition and more subtle storytelling. Ultimately, Merv is gentle and pleasant, meeting every expected note. Making a film about dog co-parenting isn't a bad idea – but I wouldn't call it a great one either.
- Merv premieres on the Amazon platform on December 10th.