This is a widely held belief for numerous people that sharing custody a dog after a breakup is ill-advised. Experts frequently claim such arrangements impede ex-partners from moving forward, lead to scheduling chaos, spark arguments, and prove frustrating for all parties. As it turns out, in a revelation suited to a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to the dogs themselves to feel down.
Without minimizing the inner life of animals – pet parents observe their remarkable empathy. If you need masterclass in pet despair, simply recall another performance. It seems certain that a dog of Merv's nature, a wired-hair terrier mix played by a talented dog named Gus, would have a hard time coping with divided living arrangements. Whether this premise an entire Christmas romance on this conflict holds water is rather doubtful.Predictable Foundations
Honestly, Merv, the work of the writing duo and under the guidance of director Swale, makes no grand claims deeper than what it is. It functions as a holiday release from a streaming platform giant – the ambitions remains surface-level. The plot is destined to be uncomplicated: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their individual funk is surpassed by their dog's, embark on a cheer-up vacation to a dog-friendly resort. Once there, as expected, they will undoubtedly stumble toward the idea that they belong with each other. Ensemble players – featuring Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic carries the feel of a streaming service original, with a Christmas setting that is visibly contrived – think fake snow surrounding lush pines as a warm climate doubles as the Northeast.
The Dog's Domain
If these predictable parts merge into an entertaining watch depends on the actors' work and one's taste for comfort viewing. For the comfort factor, Merv knows its audience – the kind who browse regularly for pet content. It provides a plethora of canine-centric sequences. The main attraction is Merv himself, and even if it causes some stilted moments between the pet's "lines" and the actors' responses, the movie does offer canine party antics, pet moping, and, ultimately, a tail-wagging resolution.
Where It Wobbles
The same praise is not earned for the human side of the story. The tone wavers between emotional depth, zany antics, predictable love story, and silly gags, not quite landing a consistent feel. This is not Charlie Cox, who is fully game the silliness and cringe inherent in the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a likable self-deprecation that provides a significant portion of the appeal for this ostensibly perfect couple. Anna's portrayer, in her typical fashion, imparts a particular brand of eccentricity that will click for some but not others. The character can feel a little too aloof, especially when contrasted against Cox's genuine sadness. (On another note, Merv himself is convincing at acting depressed – while no the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he's definitely an excellent dog.)
The story strives to add substance to Anna and Russ's relationship for sequences focusing solely on them – a regrettable choice, given that the dog is undoubtedly the cutest element of this film designed for charm. Expectedly, it achieves only baseline competence. The cause for their original breakup would feel more adult and realistic with less exposition and more subtle storytelling. In the end, Merv is slight and sweet, fulfilling all its marks. Crafting a story about dog co-parenting has potential – even if I wouldn't call it a brilliant concept.
- Merv premieres on Amazon Prime Video on December 10th.
