This is an often-repeated piece of advice among many that co-parenting a canine companion post-separation is a terrible idea. The consensus suggests such setups prevent former couples from healing, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and are a nuisance for all parties. As it turns out, in a revelation suited to a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to the canine in question to feel down.
While respecting the mental health of our pets – many owners attest to their remarkable empathy. For a prime example in pet despair, one need only look another performance. I firmly believe that a dog of Merv's nature, a spirited little dog portrayed by a talented dog named Gus, would find it difficult coping with divided living arrangements. The idea of basing an entire Christmas romance on this conflict is sustainable is debatable at best.Predictable Foundations
Honestly, Merv, written by its screenwriters and under the guidance of playwright Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims deeper than what it is. It functions as a seasonal offering from a corporate studio – the complexity are modest. The narrative unfolds as uncomplicated: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their own sadness is rivaled only by their dog's, embark on a uplifting getaway to a dog-friendly resort. Once there, as expected, they will surely stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. Ensemble players – featuring familiar faces – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic is reminiscent of a branded content, with a wintry atmosphere that is visibly contrived – as seen in fake snow surrounding lush pines as a summer location substitutes for the Northeast.
The Canine Charisma
If these familiar elements coalesce into a pleasant experience rests upon the execution and an acceptance of easy entertainment. Regarding the second aspect, Merv hones in on a demographic – the kind who seek out for dog videos. Audiences receive a series of canine-centric sequences. The central draw is the canine star, and even if it causes some awkward editing between the pet's "lines" and human reaction, the movie does offer dog beach fun, canine sorrow, and, in the end, doggie joy.
The Two-Legged Cast
The same praise cannot be applied for the romantic plot. The tone vacillates between relationship drama, broad humor, formulaic romance, and outright slapstick, not quite landing a single genre. The fault lies not with Cox's performance, who is willing to embrace the humiliating and funny required by the dog resort scenario. Cox exhibits a charming humility that provides the bulk of the chemistry for this seemingly ideal couple. Anna's portrayer, in her typical fashion, imparts a distinctive offbeat energy that will click for some but not others. Her portrayal comes across as a bit too dry, especially when paired with Cox's genuine sadness. (For what it's worth, Merv himself manages flopping and whining – not quite Messi from that acclaimed drama, he is still a very good boy.)
The story strives to add substance to the central romance for scenes without their pet – a bit of a pity, considering the title character is by far the most adorable aspect of this film designed for charm. Unsurprisingly, it achieves only baseline competence. The reason for their original breakup might seem more grounded and mature with more screen time and less blunt explanation. Ultimately, Merv is light and sugary, meeting every expected note. Making a film on this shared-custody premise isn't a bad idea – but it's hardly a great one either.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video on December 10th.
