It is a widely held belief for numerous people that sharing custody a pet following a split is a terrible idea. Experts frequently claim such setups prevent individuals from healing, cause practical headaches, fuel disputes, and become annoying for all parties. Seemingly, as a development worthy of a streaming movie, it also makes our furry friends to feel down.
Without minimizing the mental health of our pets – many owners attest to their remarkable empathy. To witness a standout portrayal in pet despair, one need only look a past film. There is little doubt that a dog like Merv, a scruffy terrier type brought to life by a talented dog named Gus, would have a hard time coping with split households. If this concept an entire Christmas romance around this situation is sustainable seems a questionable prospect.A Familiar Formula
Honestly, Merv, crafted by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and directed by director Swale, makes no grand claims more profound than a light film. It functions as a Christmas movie from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the ambitions are modest. Its storyline proves to be uncomplicated: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their post-breakup gloom is surpassed by their dog's, take a therapeutic trip to a canine-centric retreat. At this location, predictably, they will surely stumble toward the idea that they are better together. The supporting cast – including a group of comedic actors – serve as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Visually has the quality of a streaming service original, with a wintry atmosphere that is clearly manufactured – think fake snow clinging to verdant foliage as North Carolina stands in for a wintery Boston.
The Canine Charisma
If these standard ingredients come together into a pleasant experience depends on the actors' work and the viewer's appetite for easy entertainment. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – individuals who seek out for cute animal clips. Audiences receive a plethora of adorable dog montages. The main attraction is Merv himself, and while this leads to some clunky cuts between the pet's "lines" and people's faces, the movie delivers on canine party antics, canine sorrow, and, in the end, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Human Element
The same praise does not extend for the human side of the story. The tone wavers between relationship drama, broad humor, standard rom-com beats, and outright slapstick, not quite landing a single genre. The fault lies not with Charlie Cox, who is willing to embrace the silliness and cringe inherent in the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a likable self-deprecation that provides a significant portion of the appeal for this on-the-rocks couple. Zooey Deschanel, in her typical fashion, brings a certain millennial quirkiness that will click for some but not others. Her portrayal can feel a bit too dry, especially when paired with Cox's genuine sadness. (On another note, Gus the Dog manages looking despondent – while no Messi from that acclaimed drama, he remains an excellent dog.)
The story strives to give weight to the central romance for sequences focusing solely on them – which is unfortunate, considering the dog is undoubtedly the most adorable aspect of this cute-aiming movie. Unsurprisingly, it just about gets by. The catalyst for their separation could have been more grounded and mature with greater exploration and less blunt explanation. Ultimately, Merv is light and sugary, fulfilling all its marks. Crafting a story about dog co-parenting is not terrible – even if I wouldn't call it a stroke of genius.
- Merv becomes available on Amazon Prime Video this December.
