This is a widely held belief among many that sharing custody a canine companion post-separation is ill-advised. Experts frequently claim such arrangements prevent former couples from healing, create logistical nightmares, fuel disputes, and are a nuisance for everyone involved. As it turns out, as a development fit for a streaming movie, it also makes the canine in question to become depressed.
Not to downplay the emotional well-being of dogs – many owners speak of their remarkable empathy. If you need masterclass in canine melancholy, consider recent cinema. There is little doubt that a dog such as Merv, a spirited little dog played by the canine actor Gus, would find it difficult coping with life in two homes. The idea of basing an entire Christmas romance on this conflict holds water is rather doubtful.Standard Holiday Fare
To its credit, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and under the guidance of playwright Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims more profound than what it is. This is a Christmas movie from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the depth are modest. The narrative is destined to be straightforward: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their individual funk is matched by their dog's, decide on a cheer-up vacation to a canine-centric retreat. Once there, as expected, they will undoubtedly rediscover the idea that they should reunite. Side characters – played by a group of comedic actors – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic has the quality of a streaming service original, with a holiday backdrop that is obviously artificial – as seen in obvious snow effects piled on green trees as North Carolina doubles as a wintery Boston.
The Canine Charisma
If these standard ingredients merge into an entertaining watch hinges on the strength of the performances and one's taste for cinematic comfort food. For the comfort factor, Merv hones in on a demographic – the kind who browse regularly for dog videos. It provides a plethora of adorable dog montages. The primary selling point is the canine star, and even if it causes some clunky cuts between animal action and the actors' responses, the movie delivers on dog beach fun, canine sorrow, and, in the end, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Human Element
Such effectiveness cannot be applied for the romantic plot. Its style vacillates between relationship drama, zany antics, standard rom-com beats, and silly gags, failing to master a consistent feel. No blame falls on Cox's performance, who is fully game the silliness and cringe demanded of the bizarre setting. Cox exhibits a endearing lack of ego that supplies a significant portion of the appeal for this on-the-rocks couple. Her co-star Deschanel, true to her usual style, injects a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. The character comes across as a little too aloof, particularly when contrasted against Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (It should be noted, Merv himself succeeds in acting depressed – not quite the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he is still an excellent dog.)
The story strives to provide depth to the couple's history for moments when the dog is absent – which is unfortunate, given that the title character is undoubtedly the best part of this cute-aiming movie. Unsurprisingly, it meets the bare minimum. The catalyst for the split might seem more nuanced with greater exploration and less blunt explanation. As it stands, Merv is light and sugary, fulfilling all its marks. Making a film with this canine conflict is not terrible – but it's hardly a brilliant concept.
- Merv premieres on Amazon Prime Video on December 10th.
