This is a common warning among many that jointly caring for a pet post-separation is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such arrangements prevent former couples from finding closure, create logistical nightmares, spark arguments, and prove frustrating for all parties. Apparently, as a development suited to a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to the dogs themselves to feel down.
Without minimizing the inner life of our pets – countless people observe their remarkable empathy. To witness a standout portrayal in canine melancholy, one need only look recent cinema. It seems certain that a dog of Merv's nature, a scruffy terrier type played by the canine actor Gus, would have a hard time adjusting to divided living arrangements. The idea of basing a full holiday film on such a setup works effectively is rather doubtful.A Familiar Formula
To its credit, Merv, the work of the writing duo and directed by director Swale, doesn't pretend to be deeper than what it is. It functions as a Christmas movie from a streaming platform giant – the complexity is limited. Its storyline unfolds as uncomplicated: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their post-breakup gloom is surpassed by their dog's, decide on a therapeutic trip to a luxury pet hotel. Once there, as expected, they will presumably stumble toward the idea that they belong with each other. Ensemble players – played by Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – fulfill roles quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic is reminiscent of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is obviously artificial – exemplified by fake snow clinging to lush pines as a warm climate substitutes for the Northeast.
The Dog's Domain
How these predictable parts coalesce into something enjoyable rests upon the strength of the performances and one's taste for cinematic comfort food. For the comfort factor, Merv hones in on a demographic – the kind who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. The film delivers a plethora of adorable dog montages. The primary selling point is the canine star, and though it results in some awkward editing between animal action and human reaction, the movie delivers on canine party antics, dog depression, and, in the end, pure puppy happiness.
The Two-Legged Cast
The same praise is not earned for the interpersonal drama. The tone vacillates between emotional depth, broad humor, predictable love story, and outright slapstick, not quite landing any one mode. No blame falls on Charlie Cox, who is willing to embrace the absurd and awkward demanded of the bizarre setting. His performance contains a likable self-deprecation that supplies much of the film's charm for this seemingly ideal couple. Zooey Deschanel, as is her trademark, imparts a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. The character comes across as a bit too dry, notably when alongside Cox's genuine sadness. (It should be noted, Merv himself succeeds in looking despondent – he may not be Messi from that acclaimed drama, he's definitely a very good boy.)
The film attempts to provide depth to the couple's history for moments when the dog is absent – a bit of a pity, since the dog is easily the cutest element of this film designed for charm. Unsurprisingly, it just about gets by. The reason for the split could have been more grounded and mature with less exposition and fewer direct statements. In the end, Merv is slight and sweet, meeting precisely what you anticipate. Crafting a story with this canine conflict is not terrible – but it's hardly a brilliant concept.
- Merv premieres on Prime Video on December 10th.
