This is a widely held belief among many that jointly caring for a dog post-separation is a terrible idea. Most will argue such setups prevent former couples from moving forward, lead to scheduling chaos, spark arguments, and are a nuisance for everyone involved. Seemingly, as a development worthy of a streaming movie, it also makes the canine in question to feel down.
Without minimizing the mental health of our pets – countless people attest to their profound sensitivity. If you need masterclass in pet despair, one need only look another performance. I firmly believe that a dog such as Merv, a spirited little dog portrayed by the canine actor Gus, would find it difficult adjusting to split households. Whether this premise an entire Christmas romance on this conflict works effectively is rather doubtful.Predictable Foundations
To its credit, Merv, crafted by the writing duo and under the guidance of Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims anything more than a light film. We have here a Christmas movie from a corporate studio – the complexity are modest. The narrative unfolds as simple and direct: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their individual funk is matched by their dog's, embark on a therapeutic trip to a canine-centric retreat. There, inevitably, they will surely rediscover the idea that they are better together. The supporting cast – featuring a group of comedic actors – are crafted as the usual assortment of types. Its aesthetic carries the feel of a branded content, with a holiday backdrop that is clearly manufactured – think obvious snow effects piled on lush pines as North Carolina substitutes for the Northeast.
The Dog's Domain
How these familiar elements coalesce into something enjoyable rests upon the actors' work and an acceptance of comfort viewing. For the comfort factor, Merv knows its audience – the kind who browse regularly for dog videos. It provides a plethora of scenes focused on the pet. The central draw is Merv himself, and even if it causes some awkward editing between the pet's "lines" and people's faces, the movie delivers on dog beach fun, dog depression, and, finally, doggie joy.
The Two-Legged Cast
This level of success cannot be applied for the human side of the story. The film's approach wavers between serious study, zany antics, predictable love story, and outright slapstick, failing to master any one mode. The fault lies not with Charlie Cox, who is fully game the humiliating and funny inherent in the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a endearing lack of ego that supplies the bulk of the chemistry for this on-the-rocks couple. Anna's portrayer, in her typical fashion, injects a particular brand of eccentricity that will click for some but not others. Her portrayal can feel a bit too dry, particularly when contrasted against Cox's genuine sadness. (For what it's worth, the canine performer manages looking despondent – not quite a canine thespian of that caliber, he is still an excellent dog.)
Merv tries to add substance to the couple's history for scenes without their pet – a regrettable choice, since the title character is easily the cutest element of this film designed for charm. Expectedly, it meets the bare minimum. The reason for their separation might seem more grounded and mature with less exposition and less blunt explanation. As it stands, Merv is light and sugary, fulfilling precisely what you anticipate. Making a film about dog co-parenting is not terrible – but it's not exactly a brilliant concept.
- Merv premieres on Amazon Prime Video starting December 10.
