This is a widely held belief among many that sharing custody a dog following a split is a recipe for trouble. Most will argue such setups prevent individuals from healing, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and prove frustrating for all parties. Apparently, and in a twist worthy of a streaming movie, it also makes the dogs themselves to become depressed.
Without minimizing the inner life of animals – countless people attest to their remarkable empathy. To witness a standout portrayal in pet despair, consider recent cinema. There is little doubt that a dog such as Merv, a spirited little dog played by the canine actor Gus, would find it difficult coping with divided living arrangements. Whether this premise an entire Christmas romance on this conflict holds water remains rather doubtful.A Familiar Formula
Honestly, Merv, written by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and directed by playwright Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims anything more than what it is. We have here a Christmas movie from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the depth remains surface-level. The plot unfolds as straightforward: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their individual funk is surpassed by their dog's, take a uplifting getaway to a canine-centric retreat. At this location, predictably, they will undoubtedly realize the idea that they belong with each other. Ensemble players – including Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – fulfill roles the usual assortment of types. The film's look carries the feel of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is obviously artificial – think flurries surrounding green trees as a summer location substitutes for the Northeast.
The Dog's Domain
How these familiar elements coalesce into a pleasant experience hinges on the execution and an acceptance of comfort viewing. Regarding the second aspect, Merv targets a specific viewer – individuals who seek out for pet content. It provides a wealth of canine-centric sequences. The primary selling point is the dog, and even if it causes some clunky cuts between what the dog does and people's faces, the movie delivers on canine party antics, dog depression, and, finally, a tail-wagging resolution.
Where It Wobbles
This level of success is not earned for the human side of the story. The film's approach shifts uneasily between serious study, broad humor, formulaic romance, and physical comedy, failing to master a consistent feel. The fault lies not with Cox's performance, who is admirably committed the silliness and cringe demanded of the bizarre setting. His performance contains a charming humility that supplies the bulk of the chemistry for this on-the-rocks couple. Anna's portrayer, as is her trademark, brings a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. The character comes across as a little too aloof, especially when contrasted against Cox's vulnerable performance. (On another note, Gus the Dog manages acting depressed – while no Messi from that acclaimed drama, he is still a scene-stealer.)
Merv tries to give weight to the central romance for scenes without their pet – a regrettable choice, considering the dog is easily the cutest element of this cute-aiming movie. As one might predict, it meets the bare minimum. The catalyst for the split could have been more grounded and mature with less exposition and less blunt explanation. Ultimately, Merv is slight and sweet, fulfilling every expected note. Creating a movie with this canine conflict isn't a bad idea – but it's not exactly a brilliant concept.
- Merv premieres on the Amazon platform starting December 10.
