This is a widely held belief among many that sharing custody a canine companion following a split is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such setups prevent ex-partners from healing, lead to scheduling chaos, spark arguments, and are a nuisance across the board. Seemingly, as a development fit for a streaming movie, it can even cause the dogs themselves to experience sadness.
While respecting the mental health of dogs – countless people attest to their deep emotional capacity. If you need standout portrayal in canine melancholy, consider a past film. I firmly believe that a dog like Merv, a spirited little dog brought to life by the canine actor Gus, would find it difficult coping with divided living arrangements. If this concept a full holiday film on such a setup works effectively is a questionable prospect.Standard Holiday Fare
Honestly, Merv, written by its screenwriters and helmed by playwright Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be more profound than its premise. This is a Christmas movie from a corporate studio – the depth are modest. Its storyline is destined to be straightforward: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their individual funk is rivaled only by their dog's, embark on a uplifting getaway to a dog-friendly resort. Once there, as expected, they will undoubtedly stumble toward the idea that they belong with each other. The supporting cast – including a group of comedic actors – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. The film's look carries the feel of a streaming service original, with a wintry atmosphere that is obviously artificial – as seen in obvious snow effects clinging to green trees as a summer location doubles as a wintery Boston.
The Canine Charisma
How these familiar elements coalesce into a pleasant experience rests upon the strength of the performances and the viewer's appetite for cinematic comfort food. Regarding the second aspect, Merv knows its audience – individuals who browse regularly for dog videos. Audiences receive a plethora of scenes focused on the pet. The primary selling point is Merv himself, and while this leads to some clunky cuts between what the dog does and people's faces, the movie delivers on walking sequences, pet moping, and, ultimately, doggie joy.
Where It Wobbles
The same praise does not extend for the human side of the story. The film's approach wavers between relationship drama, zany antics, predictable love story, and outright slapstick, not quite landing a consistent feel. This is not Cox's performance, who is admirably committed the humiliating and funny demanded of the bizarre setting. Cox exhibits a likable self-deprecation that provides much of the film's charm for this seemingly ideal couple. Anna's portrayer, as is her trademark, brings a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. The character comes across as a bit too dry, notably when paired with Cox's genuine sadness. (It should be noted, Merv himself is convincing at acting depressed – he may not be Messi from that acclaimed drama, he is still an excellent dog.)
Merv tries to add substance to Anna and Russ's relationship for scenes without their pet – a bit of a pity, since Merv is easily the most adorable aspect of this cute-aiming movie. As one might predict, it achieves only baseline competence. The reason for their original breakup could have been more nuanced with greater exploration and less blunt explanation. In the end, Merv is gentle and pleasant, hitting precisely what you anticipate. Making a film with this canine conflict is not terrible – though it's hardly a brilliant concept.
- Merv streams on the Amazon platform starting December 10.
