It is a widely held belief for numerous people that sharing custody a canine companion following a split is a terrible idea. The consensus suggests such situations hinder individuals from healing, create logistical nightmares, lead to tension, and prove frustrating for everyone involved. As it turns out, and in a twist suited to a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to the canine in question to feel down.
Not to downplay the inner life of animals – pet parents speak of their profound sensitivity. If you need standout portrayal in canine melancholy, simply recall another performance. It seems certain that a dog like Merv, a scruffy terrier type portrayed by Gus the Dog, would have a hard time adapting to life in two homes. Whether this premise an entire Christmas romance on this conflict holds water is a questionable prospect.Predictable Foundations
Fairness demands noting, Merv, the work of Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and directed by Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims anything more than what it is. This is a seasonal offering from a streaming platform giant – the depth is limited. The narrative unfolds as uncomplicated: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their own sadness is rivaled only by their dog's, decide on a cheer-up vacation to a dog-friendly resort. There, inevitably, they will undoubtedly rediscover the idea that they are better together. Ensemble players – including familiar faces – serve as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Visually carries the feel of a branded content, with a Christmas setting that is clearly manufactured – think flurries piled on green trees as North Carolina substitutes for a wintery Boston.
The Dog's Domain
Whether these standard ingredients coalesce into a pleasant experience depends on the execution and an acceptance of comfort viewing. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – individuals who scroll endlessly for dog videos. It provides a series of canine-centric sequences. The primary selling point is Merv himself, and while this leads to some awkward editing between animal action and human reaction, the movie delivers on canine party antics, canine sorrow, and, finally, pure puppy happiness.
The Two-Legged Cast
This level of success does not extend for the interpersonal drama. The tone shifts uneasily between relationship drama, wacky comedy, standard rom-com beats, and outright slapstick, not quite landing any one mode. The fault lies not with Cox's performance, who is willing to embrace the absurd and awkward required by the dog resort scenario. Cox exhibits a endearing lack of ego that provides the bulk of the chemistry for this ostensibly perfect couple. Anna's portrayer, in her typical fashion, brings a particular brand of eccentricity that will click for some but not others. The character seems a little too aloof, notably when paired with Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (On another note, Gus the Dog is convincing at flopping and whining – he may not be a canine thespian of that caliber, he remains an excellent dog.)
The film attempts to give weight to Anna and Russ's relationship for moments when the dog is absent – which is unfortunate, considering Merv is easily the best part of this film designed for charm. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The cause for the split would feel more grounded and mature with less exposition and more subtle storytelling. Ultimately, Merv is light and sugary, meeting precisely what you anticipate. Crafting a story about dog co-parenting isn't a bad idea – but it's hardly a brilliant concept.
- Merv becomes available on Amazon Prime Video on December 10th.
