It is a widely held belief for numerous people that sharing custody a pet after a breakup is a recipe for trouble. Experts frequently claim such setups hinder former couples from moving forward, cause practical headaches, fuel disputes, and prove frustrating across the board. As it turns out, as a development worthy of a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to our furry friends to become depressed.
While respecting the emotional well-being of animals – pet parents speak of their deep emotional capacity. If you need prime example in pet despair, simply recall recent cinema. It seems certain that a dog like Merv, a scruffy terrier type brought to life by the canine actor Gus, would struggle coping with life in two homes. Whether this premise an entire Christmas romance on this conflict holds water is debatable at best.Predictable Foundations
Fairness demands noting, Merv, written by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and directed by director Swale, never aspires to be deeper than what it is. We have here a Christmas movie from a corporate studio – the depth is limited. Its storyline proves to be straightforward: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their post-breakup gloom is surpassed by their dog's, decide on a uplifting getaway to a dog-friendly resort. There, inevitably, they will undoubtedly rediscover the idea that they are better together. Side characters – including familiar faces – are crafted as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Visually has the quality of a platform's in-house production, with a wintry atmosphere that is visibly contrived – exemplified by fake snow piled on verdant foliage as a warm climate substitutes for the Northeast.
Where the Film Shines
Whether these predictable parts come together into a pleasant experience rests upon the actors' work and an acceptance of comfort viewing. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who browse regularly for dog videos. The film delivers a series of adorable dog montages. The primary selling point is the dog, and though it results in some clunky cuts between what the dog does and the actors' responses, the movie succeeds in showing dog beach fun, pet moping, and, in the end, doggie joy.
Where It Wobbles
Such effectiveness cannot be applied for the human side of the story. The tone wavers between relationship drama, broad humor, standard rom-com beats, and outright slapstick, failing to master any one mode. This is not Charlie Cox, who is willing to embrace the silliness and cringe inherent in the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a charming humility that supplies a significant portion of the appeal for this on-the-rocks couple. Zooey Deschanel, in her typical fashion, injects a particular brand of eccentricity that will either resonate with viewers. The character can feel a bit too dry, notably when contrasted against Cox's genuine sadness. (For what it's worth, Merv himself is convincing at looking despondent – while no 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 moments when the dog is absent – which is unfortunate, since Merv is by far the cutest element of this feel-good picture. As one might predict, it achieves only baseline competence. The catalyst for their original breakup could have been more grounded and mature with more screen time and fewer direct statements. In the end, Merv is slight and sweet, meeting precisely what you anticipate. Making a film about dog co-parenting isn't a bad idea – even if it's hardly a brilliant concept.
- Merv premieres on Prime Video starting December 10.
