It is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that co-parenting a canine companion following a split is a recipe for trouble. The consensus suggests such setups impede individuals from finding closure, lead to scheduling chaos, spark arguments, and become annoying for all parties. Apparently, in a revelation worthy of a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to our furry friends to become depressed.
While respecting the emotional well-being of our pets – countless people attest to their profound sensitivity. To witness a prime example in dog sorrow, one need only look a past film. There is little doubt that a dog such as Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix portrayed by Gus the Dog, would have a hard time coping with life in two homes. Whether this premise an entire Christmas romance around this situation is sustainable seems rather doubtful.Standard Holiday Fare
Fairness demands noting, Merv, written by its screenwriters and directed by director Swale, never aspires to be anything more than its premise. This is a Christmas movie from a corporate studio – the ambitions is limited. The plot is destined to be straightforward: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their post-breakup gloom is rivaled only by their dog's, take a uplifting getaway to a luxury pet hotel. At this location, predictably, they will surely realize the idea that they are better together. The supporting cast – played by a group of comedic actors – fulfill roles quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic has the quality of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is clearly manufactured – think obvious snow effects clinging to green trees as a summer location substitutes for a cold December city.
The Dog's Domain
Whether these standard ingredients merge into something enjoyable rests upon the execution and an acceptance of comfort viewing. For the comfort factor, Merv hones in on a demographic – those people who seek out for cute animal clips. The film delivers a plethora of canine-centric sequences. The main attraction is the dog, and though it results in some stilted moments between animal action and human reaction, the movie does offer dog beach fun, pet moping, and, finally, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Two-Legged Cast
This level of success is not earned for the interpersonal drama. The tone shifts uneasily between relationship drama, zany antics, predictable love story, and silly gags, not quite landing a single genre. No blame falls on Cox's performance, who is admirably committed the silliness and cringe demanded of the bizarre setting. Cox exhibits a endearing lack of ego that offers the bulk of the chemistry for this ostensibly perfect couple. Anna's portrayer, true to her usual style, imparts a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. The character comes across as a touch too detached, especially when paired with Cox's vulnerable performance. (On another note, the canine performer succeeds in flopping and whining – while no the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he's definitely an excellent dog.)
The film attempts to give weight to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – which is unfortunate, since the dog is by far the cutest element of this cute-aiming movie. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The reason for their separation could have been more nuanced with greater exploration and fewer direct statements. As it stands, Merv is slight and sweet, meeting all its marks. Crafting a story on this shared-custody premise is not terrible – even if it's not exactly a brilliant concept.
- Merv streams on Prime Video this December.
