It is a common warning in certain circles that sharing custody a canine companion following a split is a terrible idea. The consensus suggests such arrangements hinder individuals from healing, create logistical nightmares, fuel disputes, and prove frustrating across the board. Apparently, as a development suited to a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to our furry friends to experience sadness.
Not to downplay the mental health of dogs – countless people observe their deep emotional capacity. For a prime example in dog sorrow, consider another performance. It seems certain that a dog such as Merv, a scruffy terrier type brought to life by a talented dog named Gus, would find it difficult coping with split households. The idea of basing an entire Christmas romance around this situation is sustainable seems a questionable prospect.Standard Holiday Fare
To its credit, Merv, the work of its screenwriters and under the guidance of playwright Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be more profound than its premise. We have here a seasonal offering from a corporate studio – the ambitions remains surface-level. The plot proves to be simple and direct: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their post-breakup gloom is surpassed by their dog's, decide on a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. Once there, as expected, they will undoubtedly stumble toward the idea that they are better together. Ensemble players – featuring Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. The film's look has the quality of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is visibly contrived – as seen in flurries piled on lush pines as a warm climate substitutes for the Northeast.
The Canine Charisma
How these familiar elements merge into a pleasant experience rests upon the actors' work and an acceptance of easy entertainment. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who scroll endlessly for dog videos. It provides a wealth of canine-centric sequences. The main attraction is the dog, and even if it causes some awkward editing between animal action and the actors' responses, the movie does offer canine party antics, dog depression, and, in the end, pure puppy happiness.
The Human Element
The same praise cannot be applied for the human side of the story. Its style vacillates between relationship drama, broad humor, formulaic romance, and physical comedy, never fully committing to a consistent feel. The fault lies not with Cox's performance, who is fully game the humiliating and funny demanded of the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a endearing lack of ego that supplies the bulk of the chemistry for this ostensibly perfect couple. Her co-star Deschanel, in her typical fashion, imparts a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna seems a touch too detached, particularly when alongside Cox's vulnerable performance. (It should be noted, Merv himself succeeds in acting depressed – he may not be Messi from that acclaimed drama, he's definitely a scene-stealer.)
The film attempts to give weight to Anna and Russ's relationship for moments when the dog is absent – a regrettable choice, since Merv is by far the best part of this film designed for charm. Expectedly, it meets the bare minimum. The catalyst for their original breakup might seem more nuanced with less exposition and less blunt explanation. In the end, Merv is light and sugary, meeting all its marks. Crafting a story with this canine conflict has potential – even if I wouldn't call it a brilliant concept.
- Merv premieres on the Amazon platform this December.
