It is a widely held belief for numerous people that sharing custody a pet following a split is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such setups impede former couples from healing, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and prove frustrating for everyone involved. Seemingly, as a development suited to a streaming movie, it also makes the dogs themselves to feel down.
While respecting the emotional well-being of our pets – pet parents attest to their profound sensitivity. To witness a prime example in pet despair, simply recall recent cinema. I firmly believe that a dog such as Merv, a scruffy terrier type brought to life by the canine actor Gus, would have a hard time adjusting to split households. If this concept an entire Christmas romance around this situation is sustainable remains a questionable prospect.Predictable Foundations
Honestly, Merv, written by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and under the guidance of playwright Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims anything more than its premise. This is a holiday release from a streaming platform giant – the depth is limited. Its storyline is destined to be straightforward: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their post-breakup gloom is rivaled only by their dog's, decide on a cheer-up vacation to a dog-friendly resort. There, inevitably, they will surely rediscover the idea that they belong with each other. Ensemble players – played by Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – serve as the usual assortment of types. The film's look has the quality of a platform's in-house production, with a Christmas setting that is clearly manufactured – as seen in fake snow piled on lush pines as North Carolina substitutes for a wintery Boston.
The Canine Charisma
How these predictable parts come together into something enjoyable depends on the actors' work and one's taste for cinematic comfort food. Regarding the second aspect, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who seek out for pet content. The film delivers a plethora of adorable dog montages. The central draw is Merv himself, and though it results in some awkward editing between the pet's "lines" and human reaction, the movie does offer walking sequences, dog depression, and, ultimately, pure puppy happiness.
The Two-Legged Cast
Such effectiveness is not earned for the romantic plot. The tone vacillates between emotional depth, wacky comedy, formulaic romance, and outright slapstick, never fully committing to a single genre. The fault lies not with Charlie Cox, who is admirably committed the absurd and awkward demanded of the bizarre setting. He brings a likable self-deprecation that provides much of the film's charm for this seemingly ideal couple. Her co-star Deschanel, as is her trademark, imparts a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna comes across as a touch too detached, especially when contrasted against Cox's genuine sadness. (For what it's worth, Merv himself succeeds in acting depressed – not quite a canine thespian of that caliber, he is still an excellent dog.)
The story strives to provide depth to the central romance for sequences focusing solely on them – a bit of a pity, considering Merv is undoubtedly the best part of this feel-good picture. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The catalyst for their original breakup might seem more nuanced with greater exploration and more subtle storytelling. In the end, Merv is gentle and pleasant, fulfilling every expected note. Creating a movie with this canine conflict isn't a bad idea – but it's not exactly a stroke of genius.
- Merv streams on Prime Video starting December 10.
