It is a common warning for numerous people that jointly caring for a canine companion following a split is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such situations prevent former couples from moving forward, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and prove frustrating for everyone involved. As it turns out, in a revelation fit for a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to our furry friends to become depressed.
Without minimizing the mental health of dogs – countless people observe their profound sensitivity. For a masterclass in dog sorrow, one need only look recent cinema. I firmly believe that a dog of Merv's nature, a scruffy terrier type brought to life by Gus the Dog, would struggle adapting to divided living arrangements. Whether this premise an entire Christmas romance on such a setup is sustainable remains a questionable prospect.Predictable Foundations
Fairness demands noting, Merv, written by its screenwriters and helmed by playwright Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims more profound than its premise. It functions as a seasonal offering from a streaming platform giant – the complexity are modest. Its storyline proves to be simple and direct: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their own sadness is surpassed by their dog's, take a therapeutic trip to a dog-friendly resort. Once there, as expected, they will undoubtedly realize the idea that they are better together. Side characters – including a group of comedic actors – serve as the usual assortment of types. The film's look has the quality of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is clearly manufactured – exemplified by flurries surrounding verdant foliage as a summer location substitutes for a cold December city.
The Dog's Domain
Whether these familiar elements merge into an entertaining watch rests upon the execution and the viewer's appetite for easy entertainment. Regarding the second aspect, Merv knows its audience – those people who scroll endlessly for dog videos. The film delivers a series of scenes focused on the pet. The primary selling point is Merv himself, and though it results in some clunky cuts between animal action and human reaction, the movie delivers on canine party antics, canine sorrow, and, finally, pure puppy happiness.
Where It Wobbles
This level of success is not earned for the romantic plot. Its style vacillates between serious study, broad humor, predictable love story, and physical comedy, failing to master a single genre. The fault lies not with Cox's performance, who is willing to embrace the absurd and awkward inherent in the bizarre setting. Cox exhibits a likable self-deprecation that supplies the bulk of the chemistry for this on-the-rocks couple. Her co-star Deschanel, true to her usual style, brings a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna can feel a little too aloof, notably when paired with Cox's vulnerable performance. (It should be noted, Gus the Dog is convincing at looking despondent – he may not be Messi from that acclaimed drama, he's definitely a very good boy.)
The film attempts to give weight to the central romance for sequences focusing solely on them – which is unfortunate, considering the dog is by far the best part of this film designed for charm. As one might predict, it just about gets by. The reason for their original breakup would feel more nuanced with greater exploration and fewer direct statements. In the end, Merv is gentle and pleasant, hitting all its marks. Crafting a story on this shared-custody premise isn't a bad idea – though it's hardly a great one either.
- Merv becomes available on Prime Video on December 10th.
