It is an often-repeated piece of advice among many that sharing custody a dog post-separation is a recipe for trouble. Most will argue such situations impede ex-partners from moving forward, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and become annoying for all parties. As it turns out, as a development worthy of a streaming movie, it also makes our furry friends to become depressed.
Not to downplay the mental health of our pets – countless people observe their deep emotional capacity. If you need masterclass in pet despair, simply recall another performance. I firmly believe that a dog of Merv's nature, a wired-hair terrier mix brought to life by the canine actor Gus, would find it difficult adjusting to divided living arrangements. Whether this premise an entire Christmas romance on this conflict is sustainable remains a questionable prospect.Standard Holiday Fare
Fairness demands noting, Merv, crafted by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and under the guidance of director Swale, doesn't pretend to be more profound than its premise. It functions as a Christmas movie from a streaming platform giant – the complexity remains surface-level. The narrative proves to be straightforward: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their post-breakup gloom is rivaled only by their dog's, take a therapeutic trip to a luxury pet hotel. There, inevitably, they will undoubtedly stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. The supporting cast – including a group of comedic actors – fulfill roles quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic carries the feel of a branded content, with a holiday backdrop that is obviously artificial – exemplified by obvious snow effects surrounding lush pines as a warm climate substitutes for the Northeast.
The Dog's Domain
How these predictable parts come together into a pleasant experience depends on the actors' work and the viewer's appetite for comfort viewing. Regarding the second aspect, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who seek out for dog videos. The film delivers a plethora of scenes focused on the pet. The central draw is the dog, and while this leads to some clunky cuts between what the dog does and human reaction, the movie succeeds in showing dog beach fun, canine sorrow, and, ultimately, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Two-Legged Cast
This level of success does not extend for the interpersonal drama. The tone shifts uneasily between serious study, wacky comedy, predictable love story, and physical comedy, not quite landing any one mode. The fault lies not with the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the humiliating and funny required by the dog resort scenario. He brings a likable self-deprecation that offers a significant portion of the appeal for this on-the-rocks couple. Her co-star Deschanel, true to her usual style, imparts a distinctive offbeat energy that will either resonate with viewers. The character can feel a bit too dry, particularly when alongside Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (On another note, the canine performer succeeds in looking despondent – not quite the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he remains a scene-stealer.)
The story strives to add substance to the couple's history for moments when the dog is absent – a bit of a pity, since the title character is easily the cutest element of this feel-good picture. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The catalyst for the split could have been more adult and realistic with more screen time and less blunt explanation. Ultimately, Merv is slight and sweet, fulfilling precisely what you anticipate. Creating a movie with this canine conflict isn't a bad idea – but it's not exactly a stroke of genius.
- Merv premieres on the Amazon platform starting December 10.
