It is a widely held belief in certain circles that co-parenting a dog following a split is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such arrangements impede individuals from finding closure, lead to scheduling chaos, lead to tension, and become annoying for everyone involved. Seemingly, and in a twist worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it also makes the dogs themselves to experience sadness.
Not to downplay the inner life of our pets – pet parents observe their deep emotional capacity. To witness a standout portrayal in pet despair, simply recall recent cinema. It seems certain that a dog like Merv, a scruffy terrier type portrayed by the canine actor Gus, would find it difficult coping with life in two homes. If this concept an entire Christmas romance around this situation is sustainable is rather doubtful.Predictable Foundations
Honestly, Merv, written by the writing duo and helmed by Jessica Swale, never aspires to be anything more than its premise. We have here a Christmas movie from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the complexity is limited. Its storyline is destined to be uncomplicated: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their post-breakup gloom is rivaled only by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. There, inevitably, they will presumably realize the idea that they belong with each other. The supporting cast – including familiar faces – are crafted as the usual assortment of types. Visually has the quality of a branded content, with a Christmas setting that is clearly manufactured – as seen in fake snow piled on green trees as a summer location doubles as a wintery Boston.
The Canine Charisma
How these predictable parts coalesce into a pleasant experience rests upon the strength of the performances and one's taste for cinematic comfort food. Regarding the second aspect, Merv knows its audience – individuals who seek out for pet content. The film delivers a series of adorable dog montages. The main attraction is Merv himself, and while this leads to some stilted moments between what the dog does and people's faces, the movie succeeds in showing canine party antics, canine sorrow, and, in the end, doggie joy.
Where It Wobbles
This level of success is not earned for the interpersonal drama. The tone shifts uneasily between serious study, wacky comedy, standard rom-com beats, and physical comedy, failing to master any one mode. No blame falls on Cox's performance, who is willing to embrace the absurd and awkward required by the unusual premise. Cox exhibits a endearing lack of ego that provides much of the film's charm for this seemingly ideal couple. Her co-star Deschanel, as is her trademark, imparts a distinctive offbeat energy that will click for some but not others. The character comes across as a little too aloof, notably when alongside Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (It should be noted, Gus the Dog manages flopping and whining – he may not be the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he is still an excellent dog.)
Merv tries to provide depth to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – a bit of a pity, since the dog is by far the cutest element of this cute-aiming movie. Expectedly, it achieves only baseline competence. The catalyst for the split could have been more nuanced with greater exploration and fewer direct statements. Ultimately, Merv is light and sugary, meeting all its marks. Creating a movie with this canine conflict has potential – even if it's not exactly a great one either.
- Merv becomes available on the Amazon platform starting December 10.
