It is a widely held belief among many that jointly caring for a dog after a breakup is a recipe for trouble. Experts frequently claim such situations impede ex-partners from finding closure, lead to scheduling chaos, spark arguments, and prove frustrating across the board. As it turns out, in a revelation suited to a streaming movie, it can even cause the canine in question to feel down.
Without minimizing the mental health of our pets – countless people attest to their remarkable empathy. For a prime example in dog sorrow, simply recall recent cinema. I firmly believe that a dog like Merv, a spirited little dog brought to life by the canine actor Gus, would struggle adapting to divided living arrangements. The idea of basing an entire Christmas romance around this situation works effectively seems debatable at best.Standard Holiday Fare
Fairness demands noting, Merv, written by its screenwriters and under the guidance of playwright Jessica Swale, never aspires to be deeper than what it is. It functions as a seasonal offering from a streaming platform giant – the complexity are modest. Its storyline unfolds as uncomplicated: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their post-breakup gloom is surpassed by their dog's, decide on a uplifting getaway to a canine-centric retreat. Once there, as expected, they will surely realize the idea that they are better together. Side characters – including a group of comedic actors – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually has the quality of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is visibly contrived – exemplified by obvious snow effects clinging to green trees as a warm climate substitutes for a wintery Boston.
The Dog's Domain
How these familiar elements coalesce into an entertaining watch depends on the actors' work and the viewer's appetite for cinematic comfort food. For the comfort factor, Merv hones in on a demographic – those people who seek out for cute animal clips. It provides a plethora of canine-centric sequences. The central draw is the dog, and while this leads to some awkward editing between the pet's "lines" and human reaction, the movie does offer dog beach fun, canine sorrow, and, ultimately, doggie joy.
The Two-Legged Cast
Such effectiveness is not earned for the romantic plot. The tone vacillates between emotional depth, zany antics, formulaic romance, and outright slapstick, never fully committing to a single genre. No blame falls on the actor playing Russ, who is admirably committed the absurd and awkward required by the bizarre setting. He brings a endearing lack of ego that provides much of the film's charm for this on-the-rocks couple. Her co-star Deschanel, as is her trademark, imparts a particular brand of eccentricity that will be to your taste or not. The character comes across as a little too aloof, notably when alongside Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (On another note, the canine performer is convincing at acting depressed – not quite a canine thespian of that caliber, he remains a scene-stealer.)
The story strives to add substance to Anna and Russ's relationship for sequences focusing solely on them – a regrettable choice, considering Merv is by far the most adorable aspect of this film designed for charm. Expectedly, it achieves only baseline competence. The reason for the split might seem more grounded and mature with less exposition and less blunt explanation. As it stands, Merv is slight and sweet, meeting all its marks. Crafting a story on this shared-custody premise has potential – even if it's not exactly a great one either.
- Merv premieres on Prime Video on December 10th.
