It is a widely held belief among many that sharing custody a canine companion post-separation is a terrible idea. Experts frequently claim such situations hinder ex-partners from finding closure, lead to scheduling chaos, spark arguments, and become annoying for everyone involved. Apparently, as a development worthy of a streaming movie, it also makes the dogs themselves to become depressed.
Without minimizing the emotional well-being of animals – countless people attest to their deep emotional capacity. If you need standout portrayal in canine melancholy, one need only look recent cinema. It seems certain that a dog such as Merv, a scruffy terrier type portrayed by a talented dog named Gus, would struggle adapting to life in two homes. If this concept a full holiday film on this conflict works effectively is a questionable prospect.Predictable Foundations
Honestly, Merv, the work of the writing duo and directed by Jessica Swale, never aspires to be anything more than what it is. We have here a Christmas movie from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the ambitions are modest. Its storyline proves to be simple and direct: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their post-breakup gloom is surpassed by their dog's, embark on a therapeutic trip to a luxury pet hotel. At this location, predictably, they will undoubtedly rediscover the idea that they should reunite. Ensemble players – including familiar faces – are crafted as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. The film's look has the quality of a platform's in-house production, with a wintry atmosphere that is clearly manufactured – exemplified by obvious snow effects surrounding green trees as a warm climate stands in for the Northeast.
The Canine Charisma
If these standard ingredients coalesce into something enjoyable hinges on the strength of the performances and an acceptance of comfort viewing. Regarding the second aspect, Merv hones in on a demographic – the kind who seek out for dog videos. Audiences receive a plethora of canine-centric sequences. The central draw is the dog, and while this leads to some awkward editing between what the dog does and people's faces, the movie succeeds in showing dog beach fun, canine sorrow, and, ultimately, pure puppy happiness.
The Human Element
The same praise cannot be applied for the human side of the story. Its style wavers between serious study, wacky comedy, standard rom-com beats, and outright slapstick, never fully committing to any one mode. The fault lies not with Charlie Cox, who is willing to embrace the silliness and cringe inherent in the dog resort scenario. Cox exhibits a endearing lack of ego that offers much of the film's charm for this on-the-rocks couple. Anna's portrayer, in her typical fashion, injects a certain millennial quirkiness that will either resonate with viewers. The character comes across as a bit too dry, notably when alongside Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (It should be noted, Gus the Dog succeeds in acting depressed – he may not be the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he is still a very good boy.)
The film attempts to provide depth to the central romance for scenes without their pet – a bit of a pity, considering Merv is by far the cutest element of this feel-good picture. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The cause for the split might seem more grounded and mature with more screen time and fewer direct statements. Ultimately, Merv is gentle and pleasant, meeting every expected note. Creating a movie about dog co-parenting isn't a bad idea – even if it's hardly a brilliant concept.
- Merv becomes available on Prime Video starting December 10.
