This is a widely held belief in certain circles that jointly caring for a pet after a breakup is ill-advised. Most will argue such arrangements impede individuals from healing, lead to scheduling chaos, spark arguments, and prove frustrating for everyone involved. As it turns out, in a revelation suited to a streaming movie, it also makes our furry friends to become depressed.
Without minimizing the mental health of our pets – many owners observe their profound sensitivity. For a masterclass in pet despair, consider recent cinema. It seems certain that a dog of Merv's nature, a spirited little dog brought to life by Gus the Dog, would find it difficult adapting to life in two homes. Whether this premise an entire Christmas romance on this conflict works effectively is a questionable prospect.Standard Holiday Fare
To its credit, Merv, the work of its screenwriters and directed by playwright Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims anything more than its premise. It functions as a Christmas movie from a corporate studio – the ambitions is limited. Its storyline is destined to be uncomplicated: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their own sadness is rivaled only by their dog's, embark on a therapeutic trip to a canine-centric retreat. There, inevitably, they will surely stumble toward the idea that they belong with each other. Side characters – featuring a group of comedic actors – serve as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Visually carries the feel of a platform's in-house production, with a wintry atmosphere that is obviously artificial – think flurries surrounding green trees as North Carolina substitutes for the Northeast.
The Canine Charisma
How these familiar elements merge into an entertaining watch hinges on the actors' work and one's taste for easy entertainment. For the comfort factor, Merv hones in on a demographic – the kind who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. It provides a plethora of canine-centric sequences. The main attraction is the dog, and though it results in some awkward editing between the pet's "lines" and human reaction, the movie does offer canine party antics, canine sorrow, and, ultimately, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Two-Legged Cast
Such effectiveness is not earned for the romantic plot. The film's approach wavers between relationship drama, wacky comedy, formulaic romance, and physical comedy, failing to master any one mode. No blame falls on the actor playing Russ, who is willing to embrace the absurd and awkward inherent in the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a charming humility that provides the bulk of the chemistry for this seemingly ideal couple. Zooey Deschanel, in her typical fashion, injects a distinctive offbeat energy that will either resonate with viewers. Her Anna seems a little too aloof, especially when contrasted against Cox's genuine sadness. (On another note, Merv himself is convincing at acting depressed – not quite a canine thespian of that caliber, he remains a very good boy.)
The story strives to add substance to Anna and Russ's relationship for sequences focusing solely on them – a regrettable choice, considering Merv is easily the most adorable aspect of this feel-good picture. Unsurprisingly, it meets the bare minimum. The reason for their separation would feel more grounded and mature with greater exploration and fewer direct statements. Ultimately, Merv is light and sugary, meeting precisely what you anticipate. Crafting a story on this shared-custody premise isn't a bad idea – though I wouldn't call it a brilliant concept.
- Merv streams on the Amazon platform starting December 10.
