This is an often-repeated piece of advice in certain circles that co-parenting a dog following a split is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such setups hinder former couples from finding closure, cause practical headaches, fuel disputes, and prove frustrating for all parties. As it turns out, in a revelation suited to a streaming movie, it can even cause the canine in question to feel down.
Not to downplay the mental health of animals – countless people attest to their remarkable empathy. If you need standout portrayal in canine melancholy, one need only look recent cinema. It seems certain that a dog of Merv's nature, a scruffy terrier type brought to life by Gus the Dog, would struggle coping with split households. If this concept a full holiday film on this conflict is sustainable remains rather doubtful.Predictable Foundations
Honestly, Merv, crafted by the writing duo and directed by Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims more profound than its premise. It functions as a Christmas movie from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the ambitions remains surface-level. The plot is destined to be uncomplicated: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their post-breakup gloom is matched by their dog's, embark on a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. There, inevitably, they will undoubtedly realize the idea that they belong with each other. Ensemble players – including Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – fulfill roles quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. The film's look has the quality of a streaming service original, with a holiday backdrop that is visibly contrived – exemplified by flurries clinging to lush pines as a warm climate substitutes for the Northeast.
The Canine Charisma
If these familiar elements coalesce into a pleasant experience hinges on the execution and an acceptance of cinematic comfort food. Regarding the second aspect, Merv hones in on a demographic – those people who seek out for cute animal clips. Audiences receive a plethora of scenes focused on the pet. The main attraction is the canine star, and though it results in some awkward editing between what the dog does and people's faces, the movie does offer canine party antics, canine sorrow, and, ultimately, doggie joy.
The Two-Legged Cast
This level of success is not earned for the human side of the story. Its style wavers between relationship drama, zany antics, formulaic romance, and physical comedy, never fully committing to any one mode. This is not Cox's performance, who is admirably committed the absurd and awkward demanded of the bizarre setting. He brings a charming humility that supplies a significant portion of the appeal for this seemingly ideal couple. Her co-star Deschanel, true to her usual style, injects a particular brand of eccentricity that will either resonate with viewers. Her Anna comes across as a touch too detached, notably when alongside Cox's genuine sadness. (For what it's worth, the canine performer succeeds in acting depressed – not quite the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he's definitely an excellent dog.)
Merv tries to add substance to the central romance for sequences focusing solely on them – a regrettable choice, considering the title character is by far the best part of this film designed for charm. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The catalyst for the split might seem more adult and realistic with greater exploration and more subtle storytelling. In the end, Merv is slight and sweet, fulfilling all its marks. Making a film with this canine conflict isn't a bad idea – but it's hardly a brilliant concept.
- Merv premieres on the Amazon platform starting December 10.
