This is a widely held belief among many that co-parenting a pet post-separation is a recipe for trouble. Most will argue such setups impede individuals from healing, cause practical headaches, fuel disputes, and become annoying for everyone involved. As it turns out, as a development suited to a streaming movie, it also makes the dogs themselves to experience sadness.
While respecting the mental health of animals – countless people observe their remarkable empathy. To witness a standout portrayal in dog sorrow, consider another performance. There is little doubt that a dog of Merv's nature, a spirited little dog brought to life by Gus the Dog, would have a hard time adapting to split households. If this concept an entire Christmas romance on such a setup is sustainable remains a questionable prospect.Standard Holiday Fare
Honestly, Merv, the work of the writing duo and under the guidance of Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be more profound than its premise. It functions as a holiday release from a streaming platform giant – the depth remains surface-level. Its storyline proves to be simple and direct: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their post-breakup gloom is matched by their dog's, take a uplifting getaway to a canine-centric retreat. At this location, predictably, they will presumably rediscover the idea that they should reunite. Ensemble players – featuring familiar faces – fulfill roles quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. The film's look has the quality of a branded content, with a Christmas setting that is visibly contrived – exemplified by obvious snow effects clinging to green trees as a warm climate stands in for a cold December city.
The Canine Charisma
If these standard ingredients merge into an entertaining watch depends on the actors' work and an acceptance of comfort viewing. Regarding the second aspect, Merv hones in on a demographic – those people who browse regularly for dog videos. Audiences receive a series of canine-centric sequences. The primary selling point is the dog, and while this leads to some clunky cuts between what the dog does and people's faces, the movie succeeds in showing canine party antics, pet moping, and, in the end, doggie joy.
The Two-Legged Cast
This level of success does not extend for the interpersonal drama. The film's approach vacillates between serious study, wacky comedy, formulaic romance, and outright slapstick, failing to master a single genre. No blame falls on Charlie Cox, who is fully game the silliness and cringe inherent in the bizarre setting. He brings a endearing lack of ego that provides much of the film's charm for this ostensibly perfect couple. Anna's portrayer, true to her usual style, imparts a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. The character comes across as a touch too detached, notably when contrasted against Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (For what it's worth, Merv himself manages looking despondent – not quite the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he's definitely an excellent dog.)
The film attempts to give weight to Anna and Russ's relationship for sequences focusing solely on them – a regrettable choice, considering the dog is easily the most adorable aspect of this film designed for charm. As one might predict, it just about gets by. The catalyst for the split could have been more grounded and mature with more screen time and fewer direct statements. Ultimately, Merv is gentle and pleasant, fulfilling all its marks. Crafting a story on this shared-custody premise isn't a bad idea – but I wouldn't call it a stroke of genius.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video on December 10th.
