It is a common warning among many that sharing custody a canine companion post-separation is a recipe for trouble. Experts frequently claim such arrangements impede ex-partners from finding closure, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and become annoying for everyone involved. Apparently, in a revelation fit for a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to our furry friends to feel down.
While respecting the emotional well-being of animals – countless people attest to their remarkable empathy. If you need standout portrayal in canine melancholy, consider another performance. There is little doubt that a dog such as Merv, a spirited little dog brought to life by Gus the Dog, would have a hard time adapting to life in two homes. The idea of basing an entire Christmas romance on this conflict works effectively is rather doubtful.Standard Holiday Fare
Fairness demands noting, Merv, written by its screenwriters and directed by playwright Jessica Swale, never aspires to be deeper than what it is. We have here a seasonal offering from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the complexity is limited. Its storyline unfolds as simple and direct: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their individual funk is matched by their dog's, embark on a uplifting getaway to a canine-centric retreat. At this location, predictably, they will surely stumble toward the idea that they are better together. Ensemble players – including a group of comedic actors – 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 clearly manufactured – exemplified by flurries surrounding lush pines as a warm climate substitutes for a wintery Boston.
The Dog's Domain
How these predictable parts come together into an entertaining watch depends on the actors' work and the viewer's appetite for cinematic comfort food. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – individuals who browse regularly for cute animal clips. It provides a wealth of canine-centric sequences. The central draw is Merv himself, and while this leads to some awkward editing between what the dog does and human reaction, the movie does offer canine party antics, pet moping, and, in the end, pure puppy happiness.
Where It Wobbles
The same praise cannot be applied for the interpersonal drama. The film's approach vacillates between emotional depth, wacky comedy, standard rom-com beats, and physical comedy, never fully committing to any one mode. No blame falls on Cox's performance, who is admirably committed the absurd and awkward required by the bizarre setting. Cox exhibits a endearing lack of ego that supplies the bulk of the chemistry for this seemingly ideal couple. Her co-star Deschanel, as is her trademark, injects a distinctive offbeat energy that will either resonate with viewers. Her portrayal can feel a little too aloof, particularly when alongside Cox's genuine sadness. (It should be noted, Gus the Dog is convincing at flopping and whining – not quite the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he remains a scene-stealer.)
The story strives to add substance to Anna and Russ's relationship for sequences focusing solely on them – which is unfortunate, considering Merv is undoubtedly the cutest element of this feel-good picture. As one might predict, it achieves only baseline competence. The cause for their original breakup would feel more adult and realistic with less exposition and more subtle storytelling. As it stands, Merv is gentle and pleasant, meeting all its marks. Making a film about dog co-parenting isn't a bad idea – even if it's hardly a stroke of genius.
- Merv premieres on Amazon Prime Video this December.
