It is a common warning in certain circles that co-parenting a dog post-separation is a terrible idea. Most will argue such arrangements hinder individuals from finding closure, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and become annoying for everyone involved. Apparently, and in a twist suited to a streaming movie, it can even cause the dogs themselves to feel down.
While respecting the mental health of dogs – pet parents attest to their remarkable empathy. For a standout portrayal in canine melancholy, consider another performance. It seems certain that a dog such as Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix played by Gus the Dog, would struggle adapting to divided living arrangements. Whether this premise an entire Christmas romance on this conflict is sustainable remains debatable at best.Standard Holiday Fare
Fairness demands noting, Merv, written by its screenwriters and under the guidance of director Swale, never aspires to be deeper than what it is. It functions as a holiday release from a streaming platform giant – the complexity are modest. The plot proves to be uncomplicated: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their individual funk is surpassed by their dog's, take a uplifting getaway to a canine-centric retreat. Once there, as expected, they will presumably realize the idea that they are better together. Ensemble players – featuring a group of comedic actors – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually is reminiscent of a streaming service original, with a wintry atmosphere that is visibly contrived – as seen in fake snow surrounding green trees as North Carolina substitutes for the Northeast.
The Canine Charisma
Whether these predictable parts merge into an entertaining watch hinges on the strength of the performances and the viewer's appetite for comfort viewing. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – individuals who browse regularly for pet content. It provides a plethora of scenes focused on the pet. The main attraction is Merv himself, and though it results in some clunky cuts between what the dog does and people's faces, the movie delivers on canine party antics, pet moping, and, finally, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Human Element
Such effectiveness is not earned for the romantic plot. Its style wavers between serious study, wacky comedy, standard rom-com beats, and silly gags, not quite landing any one mode. No blame falls on Charlie Cox, who is willing to embrace the absurd and awkward demanded of the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a endearing lack of ego that offers the bulk of the chemistry for this on-the-rocks couple. Zooey Deschanel, as is her trademark, brings a certain millennial quirkiness that will click for some but not others. Her Anna can feel a bit too dry, notably when contrasted against Cox's vulnerable performance. (On another note, Gus the Dog manages flopping and whining – while no the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he is still a scene-stealer.)
The film attempts to give weight to the couple's history for scenes without their pet – a regrettable choice, considering Merv is by far the most adorable aspect of this cute-aiming movie. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The reason for the split could have been more adult and realistic with greater exploration and more subtle storytelling. Ultimately, Merv is slight and sweet, hitting precisely what you anticipate. Crafting a story on this shared-custody premise has potential – even if it's hardly a brilliant concept.
- Merv streams on the Amazon platform this December.
