It is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that sharing custody a dog after a breakup is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such arrangements hinder former couples from healing, create logistical nightmares, lead to tension, and are a nuisance for all parties. As it turns out, in a revelation suited to a streaming movie, it can even cause the canine in question to feel down.
While respecting the inner life of dogs – many owners speak of their deep emotional capacity. To witness a standout portrayal in canine melancholy, simply recall recent cinema. It seems certain that a dog like Merv, a spirited little dog brought to life by a talented dog named Gus, would find it difficult adjusting to life in two homes. Whether this premise an entire Christmas romance on such a setup works effectively is debatable at best.Standard Holiday Fare
To its credit, Merv, written by its screenwriters and under the guidance of playwright Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims more profound than its premise. We have here a Christmas movie from a corporate studio – the complexity is limited. Its storyline is destined to be straightforward: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their own sadness is matched by their dog's, decide on a cheer-up vacation to a dog-friendly resort. At this location, predictably, they will surely realize the idea that they should reunite. Side characters – including a group of comedic actors – fulfill roles quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic carries the feel of a streaming service original, with a Christmas setting that is visibly contrived – exemplified by fake snow clinging to lush pines as North Carolina substitutes for a cold December city.
Where the Film Shines
If these familiar elements come together into an entertaining watch rests upon the execution and the viewer's appetite for cinematic comfort food. Regarding the second aspect, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who browse regularly for pet content. It provides a series of scenes focused on the pet. The central draw is the canine star, and even if it causes some clunky cuts between what the dog does and the actors' responses, the movie delivers on walking sequences, canine sorrow, and, in the end, a tail-wagging resolution.
Where It Wobbles
This level of success cannot be applied for the interpersonal drama. Its style shifts uneasily between emotional depth, broad humor, standard rom-com beats, and silly gags, not quite landing a consistent feel. The fault lies not with Charlie Cox, who is fully game the humiliating and funny demanded of the dog resort scenario. Cox exhibits a endearing lack of ego that supplies much of the film's charm for this ostensibly perfect couple. Anna's portrayer, true to her usual style, injects a distinctive offbeat energy that will click for some but not others. Her Anna can feel a bit too dry, particularly when alongside Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (It should be noted, Merv himself succeeds in looking despondent – he may not be Messi from that acclaimed drama, he is still a scene-stealer.)
Merv tries to give weight to Anna and Russ's relationship for moments when the dog is absent – a bit of a pity, since the title character is undoubtedly the cutest element of this feel-good picture. Expectedly, it meets the bare minimum. The reason for their separation would feel more nuanced with less exposition and fewer direct statements. As it stands, Merv is gentle and pleasant, hitting every expected note. Making a film about dog co-parenting has potential – even if it's not exactly a stroke of genius.
- Merv streams on the Amazon platform this December.
