This is a widely held belief for numerous people that co-parenting a pet after a breakup is a terrible idea. Experts frequently claim such arrangements prevent ex-partners from healing, lead to scheduling chaos, lead to tension, and are a nuisance for everyone involved. Seemingly, in a revelation worthy of a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to the dogs themselves to experience sadness.
While respecting the mental health of our pets – many owners speak of their remarkable empathy. For a prime example in canine melancholy, consider recent cinema. It seems certain that a dog like Merv, a scruffy terrier type portrayed by a talented dog named Gus, would struggle adapting to life in two homes. The idea of basing an entire Christmas romance on this conflict holds water remains rather doubtful.A Familiar Formula
Honestly, Merv, written by the writing duo and helmed by playwright Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be more profound than what it is. It functions as a Christmas movie from a streaming platform giant – the complexity remains surface-level. Its storyline proves to be uncomplicated: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their individual funk is surpassed by their dog's, embark on a cheer-up vacation to a canine-centric retreat. Once there, as expected, they will surely stumble toward the idea that they are better together. Ensemble players – including familiar faces – fulfill roles eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Its aesthetic has the quality of a streaming service original, with a Christmas setting that is visibly contrived – think flurries piled on green trees as a warm climate stands in for the Northeast.
The Dog's Domain
Whether these predictable parts coalesce into an entertaining watch depends on the execution and an acceptance of easy entertainment. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who browse regularly for dog videos. It provides a series of canine-centric sequences. The central draw is the dog, and though it results in some clunky cuts between the pet's "lines" and the actors' responses, the movie succeeds in showing canine party antics, canine sorrow, and, finally, doggie joy.
The Two-Legged Cast
This level of success does not extend for the romantic plot. The film's approach shifts uneasily between emotional depth, wacky comedy, predictable love story, and physical comedy, failing to master any one mode. No blame falls on Charlie Cox, who is fully game the silliness and cringe required by the unusual premise. He brings a charming humility that offers much of the film's charm for this ostensibly perfect couple. Anna's portrayer, as is her trademark, injects a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna comes across as a bit too dry, especially when contrasted against Cox's vulnerable performance. (For what it's worth, the canine performer is convincing at looking despondent – he may not be Messi from that acclaimed drama, he's definitely a very good boy.)
The story strives to give weight to the central romance for moments when the dog is absent – a regrettable choice, since the title character is by far the cutest element of this cute-aiming movie. Unsurprisingly, it meets the bare minimum. The reason for their separation could have been more adult and realistic with more screen time and less blunt explanation. Ultimately, Merv is light and sugary, fulfilling precisely what you anticipate. Making a film on this shared-custody premise has potential – even if it's hardly a brilliant concept.
- Merv premieres on Prime Video this December.
