This is a widely held belief in certain circles that jointly caring for a pet following a split is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such situations prevent ex-partners from healing, lead to scheduling chaos, lead to tension, and are a nuisance across the board. Seemingly, as a development fit for a streaming movie, it also makes our furry friends to become depressed.
While respecting the emotional well-being of dogs – pet parents attest to their deep emotional capacity. To witness a prime example in dog sorrow, simply recall recent cinema. It seems certain that a dog of Merv's nature, a spirited little dog brought to life by Gus the Dog, would find it difficult coping with life in two homes. The idea of basing an entire Christmas romance around this situation works effectively remains rather doubtful.Predictable Foundations
To its credit, Merv, crafted by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and directed by director Swale, never aspires to be anything more than its premise. We have here a seasonal offering from a streaming platform giant – the ambitions is limited. Its storyline proves to be straightforward: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their individual funk is rivaled only by their dog's, embark on a uplifting getaway to a dog-friendly resort. At this location, predictably, they will undoubtedly rediscover the idea that they should reunite. Side characters – played by Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – fulfill roles quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic has the quality of a streaming service original, with a holiday backdrop that is clearly manufactured – exemplified by obvious snow effects clinging to green trees as a summer location stands in for a cold December city.
The Dog's Domain
How these predictable parts merge into something enjoyable rests upon the strength of the performances and one's taste for easy entertainment. Regarding the second aspect, Merv hones in on a demographic – those people who seek out for cute animal clips. It provides a series of canine-centric sequences. The central draw is Merv himself, and while this leads to some awkward editing between what the dog does and people's faces, the movie delivers on dog beach fun, canine sorrow, and, ultimately, doggie joy.
The Human Element
This level of success cannot be applied for the interpersonal drama. The tone shifts uneasily between emotional depth, zany antics, formulaic romance, and physical comedy, failing to master a single genre. The fault lies not with the actor playing Russ, who is admirably committed the absurd and awkward inherent in the unusual premise. Cox exhibits a likable self-deprecation that offers a significant portion of the appeal for this on-the-rocks couple. Anna's portrayer, true to her usual style, imparts a distinctive offbeat energy that will click for some but not others. Her Anna comes across as a little too aloof, notably when alongside Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (For what it's worth, the canine performer succeeds in flopping and whining – he may not be Messi from that acclaimed drama, he's definitely an excellent dog.)
The film attempts to give weight to Anna and Russ's relationship for moments when the dog is absent – which is unfortunate, given that the dog is by far the best part of this feel-good picture. Unsurprisingly, it just about gets by. The reason for their original breakup could have been more grounded and mature with less exposition and less blunt explanation. Ultimately, Merv is gentle and pleasant, meeting every expected note. Creating a movie on this shared-custody premise is not terrible – even if I wouldn't call it a great one either.
- Merv streams on the Amazon platform on December 10th.
