This is a common warning in certain circles that co-parenting a dog post-separation is a recipe for trouble. The consensus suggests such arrangements hinder former couples from moving forward, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and are a nuisance for everyone involved. Seemingly, as a development worthy of a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to the canine in question to become depressed.
Without minimizing the mental health of animals – countless people speak of their profound sensitivity. For a standout portrayal in canine melancholy, consider recent cinema. There is little doubt that a dog of Merv's nature, a scruffy terrier type brought to life by Gus the Dog, would have a hard time adjusting to divided living arrangements. Whether this premise an entire Christmas romance on this conflict is sustainable remains rather doubtful.Predictable Foundations
To its credit, Merv, the work of Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and directed by playwright Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims deeper than a light film. We have here a Christmas movie from a corporate studio – the ambitions remains surface-level. Its storyline proves to be straightforward: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their own sadness is surpassed by their dog's, take a therapeutic trip to a luxury pet hotel. Once there, as expected, they will undoubtedly stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. Ensemble players – played by familiar faces – are crafted as the usual assortment of types. Visually has the quality of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is visibly contrived – think obvious snow effects surrounding lush pines as a summer location substitutes for a wintery Boston.
The Canine Charisma
If these familiar elements coalesce into an entertaining watch hinges on the strength of the performances and one's taste for comfort viewing. Regarding the second aspect, Merv knows its audience – those people who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. The film delivers a plethora of scenes focused on the pet. The central draw is the dog, and though it results in some awkward editing between the pet's "lines" and people's faces, the movie delivers on canine party antics, pet moping, and, ultimately, pure puppy happiness.
The Two-Legged Cast
Such effectiveness cannot be applied for the human side of the story. Its style wavers between serious study, zany antics, formulaic romance, and silly gags, failing to master a single genre. The fault lies not with Cox's performance, who is admirably committed the silliness and cringe inherent in the bizarre setting. He brings a endearing lack of ego that supplies the bulk of the chemistry for this ostensibly perfect couple. Her co-star Deschanel, as is her trademark, brings a particular brand of eccentricity that will either resonate with viewers. Her Anna can feel a bit too dry, especially when alongside Cox's genuine sadness. (On another note, the canine performer is convincing at flopping and whining – he may not be Messi from that acclaimed drama, he's definitely a very good boy.)
Merv tries to give weight to Anna and Russ's relationship for sequences focusing solely on them – a regrettable choice, since the title character is easily the best part of this film designed for charm. As one might predict, it just about gets by. The cause for their separation might seem more nuanced with less exposition and more subtle storytelling. In the end, Merv is light and sugary, meeting precisely what you anticipate. Creating a movie on this shared-custody premise is not terrible – even if I wouldn't call it a brilliant concept.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video starting December 10.
