It is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that jointly caring for a dog post-separation is a terrible idea. Most will argue such situations prevent individuals from moving forward, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and prove frustrating for everyone involved. Apparently, as a development worthy of a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to the canine in question to feel down.
Without minimizing the emotional well-being of our pets – many owners attest to their profound sensitivity. For a prime example in dog sorrow, consider a past film. It seems certain that a dog of Merv's nature, a wired-hair terrier mix brought to life by a talented dog named Gus, would struggle adapting to life in two homes. If this concept an entire Christmas romance on this conflict is sustainable seems rather doubtful.A Familiar Formula
Honestly, Merv, written by the writing duo and helmed by playwright Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims anything more than what it is. We have here a Christmas movie from a corporate studio – the ambitions is limited. Its storyline is destined to be uncomplicated: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their individual funk is surpassed by their dog's, embark on a therapeutic trip to a dog-friendly resort. There, inevitably, they will surely realize the idea that they belong with each other. Side characters – featuring familiar faces – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually has the quality of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is clearly manufactured – exemplified by flurries surrounding green trees as a summer location substitutes for a wintery Boston.
The Dog's Domain
If these standard ingredients come together into something enjoyable hinges on the execution and the viewer's appetite for easy entertainment. Regarding the second aspect, Merv knows its audience – those people who browse regularly for pet content. It provides a series of adorable dog montages. The primary selling point is the canine star, and even if it causes some awkward editing between the pet's "lines" and the actors' responses, the movie does offer walking sequences, canine sorrow, and, in the end, doggie joy.
The Two-Legged Cast
This level of success does not extend for the human side of the story. Its style vacillates between serious study, wacky comedy, formulaic romance, and outright slapstick, not quite landing any one mode. This is not Cox's performance, who is willing to embrace the humiliating and funny demanded of the unusual premise. He brings a charming humility that provides the bulk of the chemistry for this ostensibly perfect couple. Zooey Deschanel, true to her usual style, injects a distinctive offbeat energy that will either resonate with viewers. Her Anna comes across as a touch too detached, particularly when contrasted against Cox's genuine sadness. (On another note, the canine performer succeeds in flopping and whining – he may not be a canine thespian of that caliber, he is still a very good boy.)
The film attempts to provide depth to the central romance for scenes without their pet – a bit of a pity, considering the title character is easily the best part of this film designed for charm. As one might predict, it meets the bare minimum. The reason for their original breakup would feel more adult and realistic with more screen time and more subtle storytelling. As it stands, Merv is light and sugary, hitting all its marks. Crafting a story on this shared-custody premise isn't a bad idea – even if it's not exactly a stroke of genius.
- Merv streams on Prime Video this December.
