This is a common warning in certain circles that jointly caring for a pet post-separation is ill-advised. Experts frequently claim such situations hinder ex-partners from moving forward, cause practical headaches, fuel disputes, and prove frustrating across the board. Seemingly, and in a twist worthy of a streaming movie, it can even cause our furry friends to experience sadness.
Not to downplay the inner life of dogs – many owners attest to their profound sensitivity. If you need standout portrayal in dog sorrow, one need only look another performance. It seems certain that a dog like Merv, a scruffy terrier type played by a talented dog named Gus, would have a hard time adapting to divided living arrangements. Whether this premise an entire Christmas romance on such a setup is sustainable is debatable at best.Predictable Foundations
Honestly, Merv, written by the writing duo and under the guidance of director Swale, never aspires to be anything more than its premise. It functions as a Christmas movie from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the depth remains surface-level. Its storyline unfolds as simple and direct: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their individual funk is surpassed by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a dog-friendly resort. At this location, predictably, they will surely rediscover the idea that they belong with each other. The supporting cast – played by a group of comedic actors – fulfill roles the usual assortment of types. Its aesthetic carries the feel of a platform's in-house production, with a Christmas setting that is clearly manufactured – think fake snow surrounding verdant foliage as a summer location stands in for a cold December city.
Where the Film Shines
If these familiar elements coalesce into an entertaining watch rests upon the execution and the viewer's appetite for comfort viewing. On the latter point, Merv hones in on a demographic – individuals who seek out for cute animal clips. The film delivers a wealth of canine-centric sequences. The main attraction is the dog, and while this leads to some stilted moments between what the dog does and the actors' responses, the movie succeeds in showing dog beach fun, canine sorrow, and, finally, doggie joy.
Where It Wobbles
This level of success cannot be applied for the romantic plot. The film's approach vacillates between relationship drama, wacky comedy, formulaic romance, and silly gags, failing to master a single genre. This is not Cox's performance, who is fully game the silliness and cringe inherent in the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a endearing lack of ego that supplies much of the film's charm for this on-the-rocks couple. Anna's portrayer, in her typical fashion, imparts a distinctive offbeat energy that will click for some but not others. The character can feel a little too aloof, notably when paired with Cox's genuine sadness. (On another note, the canine performer is convincing at acting depressed – not quite Messi from that acclaimed drama, he remains a very good boy.)
Merv tries to give weight to the central romance for moments when the dog is absent – a bit of a pity, considering Merv is by far the cutest element of this film designed for charm. Expectedly, it meets the bare minimum. The reason for the split could have been more adult and realistic with greater exploration and less blunt explanation. As it stands, Merv is light and sugary, meeting every expected note. Creating a movie on this shared-custody premise isn't a bad idea – even if I wouldn't call it a stroke of genius.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video on December 10th.
