This is a widely held belief among many that jointly caring for a dog following a split is a terrible idea. The consensus suggests such situations prevent individuals from finding closure, create logistical nightmares, lead to tension, and are a nuisance for all parties. As it turns out, as a development suited to a streaming movie, it also makes the dogs themselves to become depressed.
Without minimizing the inner life of animals – many owners observe their deep emotional capacity. If you need prime example in pet despair, simply recall another performance. It seems certain that a dog such as Merv, a scruffy terrier type portrayed by the canine actor Gus, would find it difficult adjusting to life in two homes. Whether this premise an entire Christmas romance on this conflict holds water seems a questionable prospect.A Familiar Formula
Fairness demands noting, Merv, crafted by the writing duo and helmed by director Swale, makes no grand claims more profound than a light film. This is a seasonal offering from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the complexity are modest. Its storyline proves to be simple and direct: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their post-breakup gloom is surpassed by their dog's, embark on a uplifting getaway to a dog-friendly resort. There, inevitably, they will surely realize the idea that they belong with each other. The supporting cast – including a group of comedic actors – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually carries the feel of a platform's in-house production, with a wintry atmosphere that is visibly contrived – exemplified by flurries surrounding green trees as a summer location substitutes for the Northeast.
Where the Film Shines
Whether these predictable parts coalesce into an entertaining watch rests upon the strength of the performances and the viewer's appetite for comfort viewing. Regarding the second aspect, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who scroll endlessly for dog videos. It provides a plethora of adorable dog montages. The main attraction is the dog, and though it results in some awkward editing between animal action and people's faces, the movie succeeds in showing walking sequences, pet moping, and, in the end, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Two-Legged Cast
The same praise cannot be applied for the romantic plot. The film's approach vacillates between serious study, wacky comedy, predictable love story, and silly gags, not quite landing a single genre. The fault lies not with Cox's performance, who is fully game the humiliating and funny demanded of the bizarre setting. Cox exhibits a endearing lack of ego that supplies much of the film's charm for this on-the-rocks couple. Her co-star Deschanel, as is her trademark, injects a particular brand of eccentricity that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal seems a bit too dry, notably when contrasted against Cox's vulnerable performance. (For what it's worth, Gus the Dog manages looking despondent – while no Messi from that acclaimed drama, he remains a very good boy.)
The film attempts to add substance to Anna and Russ's relationship for sequences focusing solely on them – a bit of a pity, given that the dog is easily the cutest element of this film designed for charm. Expectedly, it meets the bare minimum. The cause for the split could have been more adult and realistic with greater exploration and less blunt explanation. In the end, Merv is light and sugary, meeting precisely what you anticipate. Creating a movie on this shared-custody premise is not terrible – even if it's hardly a great one either.
- Merv streams on the Amazon platform starting December 10.
