This is a common warning among many that sharing custody a canine companion post-separation is a terrible idea. The consensus suggests such arrangements prevent individuals from healing, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and are a nuisance for all parties. As it turns out, in a revelation fit for a streaming movie, it can even cause the canine in question to experience sadness.
Not to downplay the mental health of dogs – pet parents attest to their deep emotional capacity. To witness a standout portrayal in pet despair, consider a past film. There is little doubt that a dog like Merv, a spirited little dog portrayed by the canine actor Gus, would struggle adapting to divided living arrangements. If this concept an entire Christmas romance on such a setup holds water remains debatable at best.A Familiar Formula
To its credit, Merv, the work of the writing duo and helmed by playwright Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims anything more than a light film. We have here a Christmas movie from a corporate studio – the complexity are modest. The plot unfolds as simple and direct: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their post-breakup gloom is matched by their dog's, decide on a cheer-up vacation to a dog-friendly resort. Once there, as expected, they will surely realize the idea that they belong with each other. The supporting cast – including familiar faces – fulfill roles eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. The film's look carries the feel of a streaming service original, with a wintry atmosphere that is obviously artificial – think fake snow piled on green trees as a warm climate doubles as a cold December city.
The Canine Charisma
Whether these standard ingredients coalesce into an entertaining watch hinges on the actors' work and one's taste for comfort viewing. Regarding the second aspect, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who seek out for dog videos. The film delivers a series of canine-centric sequences. The primary selling point is the canine star, and though it results in some awkward editing between the pet's "lines" and the actors' responses, the movie does offer dog beach fun, pet moping, and, finally, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Human Element
The same praise cannot be applied for the romantic plot. The film's approach wavers between serious study, broad humor, formulaic romance, and outright slapstick, not quite landing a single genre. No blame falls on the actor playing Russ, who is admirably committed the humiliating and funny demanded of the dog resort scenario. Cox exhibits a charming humility that supplies a significant portion of the appeal for this on-the-rocks couple. Her co-star Deschanel, as is her trademark, injects a particular brand of eccentricity that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna seems a touch too detached, notably when contrasted against Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (For what it's worth, Merv himself manages flopping and whining – not quite the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he is still a scene-stealer.)
The story strives to provide depth to Anna and Russ's relationship for scenes without their pet – a bit of a pity, considering the title character is undoubtedly the most adorable aspect of this feel-good picture. Unsurprisingly, it meets the bare minimum. The cause for the split 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. Creating a movie with this canine conflict isn't a bad idea – even if it's hardly a brilliant concept.
- Merv becomes available on Prime Video on December 10th.
