It is a widely held belief among many that co-parenting a canine companion following a split is a terrible idea. Experts frequently claim such arrangements prevent individuals from healing, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and prove frustrating for everyone involved. Seemingly, and in a twist suited to a streaming movie, it also makes our furry friends to become depressed.
Without minimizing the mental health of our pets – many owners speak of their profound sensitivity. For a masterclass in dog sorrow, one need only look another performance. There is little doubt that a dog such as Merv, a spirited little dog portrayed by Gus the Dog, would find it difficult adjusting to divided living arrangements. If this concept an entire Christmas romance around this situation holds water is rather doubtful.Predictable Foundations
Fairness demands noting, Merv, the work of Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and under the guidance of playwright Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims anything more than its premise. It functions as a holiday release from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the complexity remains surface-level. The plot is destined to be straightforward: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their individual funk is matched by their dog's, embark on a therapeutic trip to a luxury pet hotel. At this location, predictably, they will presumably stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. Ensemble players – played by familiar faces – fulfill roles quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually is reminiscent of a streaming service original, with a holiday backdrop that is clearly manufactured – exemplified by flurries clinging to green trees as North Carolina doubles as a cold December city.
The Canine Charisma
If these standard ingredients coalesce into an entertaining watch depends on the strength of the performances and the viewer's appetite for cinematic comfort food. On the latter point, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who browse regularly for pet content. Audiences receive a plethora of adorable dog montages. The main attraction is Merv himself, and though it results in some stilted moments between animal action and human reaction, the movie succeeds in showing canine party antics, canine sorrow, and, finally, a tail-wagging resolution.
Where It Wobbles
Such effectiveness does not extend for the romantic plot. The film's approach wavers between relationship drama, broad humor, formulaic romance, and silly gags, not quite landing a consistent feel. This is not Charlie Cox, who is fully game the humiliating and funny inherent in the unusual premise. He brings a endearing lack of ego that provides the bulk of the chemistry for this seemingly ideal couple. Zooey Deschanel, true to her usual style, imparts a particular brand of eccentricity that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna can feel a touch too detached, particularly when paired with Cox's genuine sadness. (It should be noted, Merv himself is convincing at acting depressed – while no the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he is still a scene-stealer.)
The film attempts to add substance to the central romance for moments when the dog is absent – which is unfortunate, given that Merv is easily the best part of this cute-aiming movie. As one might predict, it just about gets by. The catalyst for their separation could have been more nuanced with more screen time and fewer direct statements. As it stands, Merv is light and sugary, hitting precisely what you anticipate. Crafting a story on this shared-custody premise is not terrible – but I wouldn't call it a great one either.
- Merv streams on the Amazon platform starting December 10.
