It is an often-repeated piece of advice in certain circles that sharing custody a canine companion after a breakup is a terrible idea. The consensus suggests such situations prevent former couples from healing, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and prove frustrating across the board. Apparently, as a development suited to a streaming movie, it also makes our furry friends to feel down.
While respecting the mental health of dogs – many owners attest to their remarkable empathy. To witness a prime example in canine melancholy, simply recall a past film. I firmly believe that a dog of Merv's nature, a scruffy terrier type portrayed by the canine actor Gus, would find it difficult coping with split households. Whether this premise a full holiday film on such a setup is sustainable is rather doubtful.Standard Holiday Fare
Fairness demands noting, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and directed by director Swale, makes no grand claims anything more than its premise. It functions as a seasonal offering from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the complexity are modest. Its storyline unfolds as simple and direct: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their own sadness is surpassed by their dog's, embark on a cheer-up vacation to a dog-friendly resort. There, inevitably, they will presumably stumble toward the idea that they belong with each other. The supporting cast – featuring a group of comedic actors – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. The film's look carries the feel of a streaming service original, with a Christmas setting that is clearly manufactured – as seen in obvious snow effects surrounding green trees as North Carolina stands in for a wintery Boston.
The Canine Charisma
If these standard ingredients merge into a pleasant experience depends on the strength of the performances and one's taste for comfort viewing. Regarding the second aspect, Merv hones in on a demographic – those people who browse regularly for cute animal clips. Audiences receive a series of canine-centric sequences. The central draw is Merv himself, and while this leads to some clunky cuts between the pet's "lines" and people's faces, the movie delivers on dog beach fun, canine sorrow, and, ultimately, pure puppy happiness.
The Two-Legged Cast
Such effectiveness does not extend for the interpersonal drama. The tone vacillates between serious study, zany antics, formulaic romance, and physical comedy, failing to master a single genre. No blame falls on Cox's performance, who is fully game the absurd and awkward required by the bizarre setting. Cox exhibits a charming humility that offers a significant portion of the appeal for this ostensibly perfect couple. Zooey Deschanel, as is her trademark, imparts a particular brand of eccentricity that will click for some but not others. Her Anna comes across as a bit too dry, notably when contrasted against Cox's vulnerable performance. (On another note, Merv himself manages acting depressed – he may not be a canine thespian of that caliber, he remains an excellent dog.)
The story strives to provide depth to Anna and Russ's relationship for scenes without their pet – a bit of a pity, since the dog is undoubtedly the best part of this cute-aiming movie. Unsurprisingly, it meets the bare minimum. The reason for their separation would feel more grounded and mature with less exposition and fewer direct statements. Ultimately, Merv is slight and sweet, hitting precisely what you anticipate. Crafting a story with this canine conflict isn't a bad idea – though I wouldn't call it a great one either.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video this December.
