This is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that co-parenting a canine companion following a split is a recipe for trouble. The consensus suggests such setups impede former couples from moving forward, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and are a nuisance for everyone involved. Apparently, in a revelation suited to a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to our furry friends to feel down.
While respecting the mental health of our pets – pet parents speak of their deep emotional capacity. If you need standout portrayal in canine melancholy, simply recall recent cinema. It seems certain that a dog like Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix played by a talented dog named Gus, would find it difficult coping with divided living arrangements. If this concept an entire Christmas romance on this conflict is sustainable seems rather doubtful.A Familiar Formula
To its credit, Merv, the work of Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and under the guidance of playwright Jessica Swale, never aspires to be deeper than a light film. It functions as a Christmas movie from a streaming platform giant – the depth are modest. Its storyline unfolds as simple and direct: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their individual funk is matched by their dog's, embark on a cheer-up vacation to a dog-friendly resort. There, inevitably, they will surely rediscover the idea that they should reunite. Side characters – played by Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually carries the feel of a streaming service original, with a wintry atmosphere that is visibly contrived – as seen in flurries clinging to verdant foliage as a warm climate stands in for a wintery Boston.
The Dog's Domain
Whether these standard ingredients coalesce into something enjoyable hinges on the strength of the performances and the viewer's appetite for comfort viewing. Regarding the second aspect, Merv hones in on a demographic – those people who scroll endlessly for pet content. It provides a plethora of scenes focused on the pet. The main attraction is the dog, and while this leads to some clunky cuts between what the dog does and people's faces, the movie succeeds in showing dog beach fun, canine sorrow, and, in the end, pure puppy happiness.
The Human Element
This level of success is not earned for the human side of the story. Its style wavers between serious study, wacky comedy, formulaic romance, and physical comedy, not quite landing a consistent feel. This is not the actor playing Russ, who is admirably committed the absurd and awkward required by the unusual premise. Cox exhibits a likable self-deprecation that offers the bulk of the chemistry for this on-the-rocks couple. Zooey Deschanel, true to her usual style, brings a particular brand of eccentricity that will either resonate with viewers. The character comes across as a bit too dry, particularly when contrasted against Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (It should be noted, the canine performer succeeds in looking despondent – not quite Messi from that acclaimed drama, he is still an excellent dog.)
The story strives to provide depth to Anna and Russ's relationship for sequences focusing solely on them – a regrettable choice, given that the dog is undoubtedly the most adorable aspect of this feel-good picture. Unsurprisingly, it meets the bare minimum. The catalyst for their original breakup would feel more nuanced with more screen time and more subtle storytelling. Ultimately, Merv is light and sugary, meeting every expected note. Crafting a story on this shared-custody premise has potential – but I wouldn't call it a great one either.
- Merv premieres on the Amazon platform this December.
