This is a common warning among many that jointly caring for a canine companion following a split is a terrible idea. Most will argue such setups impede individuals from moving forward, cause practical headaches, fuel disputes, and prove frustrating across the board. Seemingly, as a development fit for a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to the canine in question to experience sadness.
Not to downplay the emotional well-being of animals – pet parents attest to their remarkable empathy. For a prime example in canine melancholy, one need only look another performance. I firmly believe that a dog of Merv's nature, a scruffy terrier type brought to life by Gus the Dog, would have a hard time coping with divided living arrangements. The idea of basing an entire Christmas romance on this conflict works effectively seems rather doubtful.Standard Holiday Fare
Honestly, Merv, written by the writing duo and directed by director Swale, never aspires to be more profound than its premise. It functions as a holiday release from a streaming platform giant – the complexity are modest. The plot proves to be simple and direct: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their individual funk is rivaled only by their dog's, decide on a uplifting getaway to a dog-friendly resort. Once there, as expected, they will presumably realize the idea that they are better together. The supporting cast – including Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – serve as the usual assortment of types. The film's look carries the feel of a branded content, with a holiday backdrop that is clearly manufactured – think fake snow surrounding verdant foliage as a summer location stands in for a cold December city.
The Canine Charisma
Whether these familiar elements merge into something enjoyable rests upon the execution and one's taste for easy entertainment. Regarding the second aspect, Merv knows its audience – individuals who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. It provides a series of canine-centric sequences. The main attraction is the canine star, and while this leads to some stilted moments between animal action and human reaction, the movie delivers on dog beach fun, canine sorrow, and, finally, pure puppy happiness.
The Two-Legged Cast
Such effectiveness is not earned for the romantic plot. The tone wavers between relationship drama, wacky comedy, formulaic romance, and silly gags, failing to master a consistent feel. This is not Cox's performance, who is admirably committed the humiliating and funny required by the unusual premise. Cox exhibits a endearing lack of ego that supplies much of the film's charm for this seemingly ideal couple. Her co-star Deschanel, as is her trademark, injects a certain millennial quirkiness that will either resonate with viewers. The character can feel a touch too detached, notably when alongside Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (It should be noted, Merv himself is convincing at flopping and whining – not quite Messi from that acclaimed drama, he's definitely a very good boy.)
The story strives to provide depth to the couple's history for scenes without their pet – a bit of a pity, considering the dog is undoubtedly the best part of this feel-good picture. As one might predict, it achieves only baseline competence. The catalyst for their separation could have been more adult and realistic with less exposition and fewer direct statements. As it stands, Merv is slight and sweet, fulfilling every expected note. Crafting a story about dog co-parenting has potential – but it's hardly a brilliant concept.
- Merv streams on the Amazon platform on December 10th.
