This is a widely held belief for numerous people that co-parenting a dog following a split is ill-advised. Most will argue such setups impede ex-partners from healing, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and become annoying across the board. As it turns out, as a development worthy of a streaming movie, it can even cause the dogs themselves to feel down.
While respecting the inner life of dogs – countless people attest to their deep emotional capacity. If you need masterclass in canine melancholy, simply recall recent cinema. I firmly believe that a dog like Merv, a spirited little dog portrayed by a talented dog named Gus, would find it difficult coping with split households. The idea of basing an entire Christmas romance on such a setup holds water remains a questionable prospect.A Familiar Formula
Honestly, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and directed by playwright Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims more profound than its premise. We have here a holiday release from a corporate studio – the complexity are modest. Its storyline is destined to be straightforward: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their individual funk is surpassed by their dog's, decide on a therapeutic trip to a luxury pet hotel. Once there, as expected, they will surely realize the idea that they belong with each other. The supporting cast – including a group of comedic actors – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. The film's look carries the feel of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is clearly manufactured – think fake snow surrounding lush pines as a warm climate substitutes for a wintery Boston.
The Canine Charisma
Whether these familiar elements come together into something enjoyable depends on the strength of the performances and the viewer's appetite for comfort viewing. Regarding the second aspect, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who browse regularly for dog videos. It provides a wealth of canine-centric sequences. The primary selling point is the dog, and even if it causes some stilted moments between the pet's "lines" and the actors' responses, the movie delivers on dog beach fun, pet moping, and, in the end, a tail-wagging resolution.
Where It Wobbles
The same praise does not extend for the human side of the story. Its style vacillates between emotional depth, wacky comedy, formulaic romance, and silly gags, failing to master a single genre. No blame falls on Charlie Cox, who is willing to embrace the humiliating and funny demanded of the unusual premise. He brings a endearing lack of ego that supplies the bulk of the chemistry for this ostensibly perfect couple. Zooey Deschanel, true to her usual style, brings a particular brand of eccentricity that will click for some but not others. The character can feel a bit too dry, particularly when paired with Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (It should be noted, the canine performer manages acting depressed – while no a canine thespian of that caliber, he remains an excellent dog.)
Merv tries to provide depth to the couple's history for scenes without their pet – a bit of a pity, considering the title character is by far the best part of this cute-aiming movie. Expectedly, it meets the bare minimum. The cause for the split would feel more nuanced with greater exploration and less blunt explanation. As it stands, Merv is slight and sweet, fulfilling precisely what you anticipate. Crafting a story with this canine conflict is not terrible – though I wouldn't call it a brilliant concept.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video on December 10th.
