This is a widely held belief among many that sharing custody a canine companion post-separation is a terrible idea. The consensus suggests such situations hinder individuals from healing, cause practical headaches, fuel disputes, and become annoying for everyone involved. As it turns out, in a revelation worthy of a streaming movie, it also makes our furry friends to experience sadness.
While respecting the mental health of our pets – many owners attest to their remarkable empathy. For a masterclass in pet despair, simply recall recent cinema. There is little doubt that a dog like Merv, a spirited little dog brought to life by Gus the Dog, would find it difficult adapting to split households. Whether this premise an entire Christmas romance on such a setup works effectively remains rather doubtful.Standard Holiday Fare
Honestly, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and directed by Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be deeper than a light film. This is a seasonal offering from a streaming platform giant – the depth remains surface-level. Its storyline proves to be uncomplicated: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their post-breakup gloom is rivaled only by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a canine-centric retreat. There, inevitably, they will surely realize the idea that they belong with each other. Side characters – played by a group of comedic actors – are crafted as the usual assortment of types. Visually has the quality of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is obviously artificial – exemplified by fake snow piled on verdant foliage as a warm climate doubles as the Northeast.
Where the Film Shines
If these standard ingredients coalesce into an entertaining watch hinges on the strength of the performances and one's taste for cinematic comfort food. On the latter point, Merv hones in on a demographic – individuals who seek out for dog videos. It provides a plethora of adorable dog montages. The main attraction is the dog, and even if it causes some clunky cuts between animal action and the actors' responses, the movie delivers on canine party antics, dog depression, and, in the end, doggie joy.
The Human Element
The same praise cannot be applied for the interpersonal drama. Its style shifts uneasily between relationship drama, broad humor, formulaic romance, and silly gags, not quite landing a single genre. This is not Cox's performance, who is willing to embrace the absurd and awkward required by the unusual premise. He brings a endearing lack of ego that supplies a significant portion of the appeal for this ostensibly perfect couple. Her co-star Deschanel, true to her usual style, brings a particular brand of eccentricity that will click for some but not others. The character comes across as a touch too detached, especially when alongside Cox's genuine sadness. (On another note, the canine performer succeeds in looking despondent – he may not be a canine thespian of that caliber, he is still a very good boy.)
Merv tries to provide depth to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – a regrettable choice, considering the title character is by far the cutest element of this feel-good picture. Unsurprisingly, it just about gets by. The catalyst for their original breakup could have been more adult and realistic with more screen time and less blunt explanation. Ultimately, Merv is slight and sweet, fulfilling precisely what you anticipate. Making a film about dog co-parenting isn't a bad idea – even if it's not exactly a stroke of genius.
- Merv streams on the Amazon platform starting December 10.
