It is a widely held belief among many that sharing custody a dog after a breakup is a terrible idea. The consensus suggests such arrangements prevent individuals from finding closure, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and become annoying across the board. Seemingly, and in a twist fit for a streaming movie, it also makes the dogs themselves to experience sadness.
While respecting the inner life of our pets – pet parents observe their deep emotional capacity. For a standout portrayal in dog sorrow, one need only look recent cinema. There is little doubt 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. If this concept an entire Christmas romance around this situation is sustainable remains debatable at best.Predictable Foundations
Fairness demands noting, Merv, the work of the writing duo and directed by director Swale, never aspires to be more profound than a light film. This is a Christmas movie from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the depth are modest. Its storyline proves to be simple and direct: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their individual funk is rivaled only by their dog's, embark on a uplifting getaway to a luxury pet hotel. At this location, predictably, they will presumably realize the idea that they are better together. Ensemble players – featuring a group of comedic actors – fulfill roles the usual assortment of types. Visually carries the feel of a branded content, with a wintry atmosphere that is obviously artificial – exemplified by fake snow surrounding lush pines as a summer location stands in for a cold December city.
The Dog's Domain
Whether these familiar elements come together into an entertaining watch depends on the execution and an acceptance of easy entertainment. On the latter point, Merv knows its audience – individuals who seek out for cute animal clips. Audiences receive a wealth of adorable dog montages. The main attraction is Merv himself, and even if it causes some clunky cuts between the pet's "lines" and people's faces, the movie delivers on walking sequences, dog depression, and, ultimately, pure puppy happiness.
The Human Element
Such effectiveness does not extend for the romantic plot. Its style wavers between relationship drama, zany antics, standard rom-com beats, and silly gags, not quite landing a consistent feel. The fault lies not with Charlie Cox, who is willing to embrace the absurd and awkward demanded of the unusual premise. He brings a charming humility that offers much of the film's charm for this ostensibly perfect couple. Her co-star Deschanel, true to her usual style, injects a particular brand of eccentricity that will click for some but not others. Her portrayal comes across as a bit too dry, notably when paired with Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (On another note, the canine performer manages acting depressed – while no Messi from that acclaimed drama, he is still a scene-stealer.)
The film attempts to provide depth to Anna and Russ's relationship for sequences focusing solely on them – a bit of a pity, considering Merv is easily the best part of this cute-aiming movie. Unsurprisingly, it meets the bare minimum. The catalyst for the split might seem more adult and realistic with more screen time and more subtle storytelling. Ultimately, Merv is slight and sweet, meeting every expected note. Making a film about dog co-parenting is not terrible – even if it's hardly a stroke of genius.
- Merv becomes available on the Amazon platform on December 10th.
