This is a widely held belief among many that sharing custody a pet post-separation is a recipe for trouble. The consensus suggests such arrangements prevent former couples from moving forward, lead to scheduling chaos, lead to tension, and are a nuisance for all parties. As it turns out, and in a twist suited to a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to the canine in question to become depressed.
Not to downplay the emotional well-being of dogs – pet parents speak of their deep emotional capacity. If you need standout portrayal in canine melancholy, simply recall recent cinema. There is little doubt that a dog such as Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix brought to life by Gus the Dog, would struggle coping with divided living arrangements. Whether this premise an entire Christmas romance on this conflict works effectively remains rather doubtful.Standard Holiday Fare
Honestly, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and under the guidance of director Swale, makes no grand claims deeper than its premise. It functions as a Christmas movie from a corporate studio – the ambitions are modest. The plot unfolds as uncomplicated: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their individual funk is surpassed by their dog's, take a uplifting getaway to a dog-friendly resort. Once there, as expected, they will undoubtedly stumble toward the idea that they belong with each other. Side characters – featuring Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – are crafted as the usual assortment of types. Visually is reminiscent of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is visibly contrived – exemplified by fake snow surrounding lush pines as North Carolina stands in for a wintery Boston.
The Canine Charisma
How these familiar elements come together into a pleasant experience depends on the strength of the performances and an acceptance of cinematic comfort food. On the latter point, Merv knows its audience – those people who seek out for dog videos. The film delivers a plethora of canine-centric sequences. The central draw is Merv himself, and while this leads to some clunky cuts between the pet's "lines" and the actors' responses, the movie succeeds in showing walking sequences, pet moping, and, in the end, doggie joy.
The Two-Legged Cast
Such effectiveness cannot be applied for the human side of the story. Its style wavers between serious study, broad humor, formulaic romance, and outright slapstick, never fully committing to a consistent feel. This is not Charlie Cox, who is admirably committed the humiliating and funny demanded of the unusual premise. Cox exhibits a endearing lack of ego that supplies a significant portion of the appeal for this seemingly ideal couple. Her co-star Deschanel, true to her usual style, brings a particular brand of eccentricity that will click for some but not others. Her portrayal can feel a bit too dry, particularly when paired with Cox's genuine sadness. (On another note, the canine performer manages acting depressed – he may not be Messi from that acclaimed drama, he is still a scene-stealer.)
Merv tries to provide depth to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – which is unfortunate, considering the dog is easily the most adorable aspect of this cute-aiming movie. Expectedly, it meets the bare minimum. The cause for their original breakup might seem more grounded and mature with less exposition and fewer direct statements. In the end, Merv is slight and sweet, fulfilling every expected note. Crafting a story with this canine conflict has potential – even if it's hardly a great one either.
- Merv becomes available on Prime Video starting December 10.
