It is an often-repeated piece of advice among many that co-parenting a dog post-separation is a terrible idea. The consensus suggests such setups prevent former couples from healing, create logistical nightmares, fuel disputes, and are a nuisance for all parties. As it turns out, and in a twist suited to a streaming movie, it can even cause the canine in question to become depressed.
While respecting the emotional well-being of dogs – many owners speak of their profound sensitivity. If you need standout portrayal in pet despair, simply recall another performance. There is little doubt that a dog like Merv, a spirited little dog played by a talented dog named Gus, would have a hard time adjusting to split households. The idea of basing an entire Christmas romance on such a setup is sustainable seems a questionable prospect.Standard Holiday Fare
To its credit, Merv, the work of its screenwriters and directed by Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be more profound than its premise. It functions as a seasonal offering from a corporate studio – the ambitions remains surface-level. Its storyline unfolds as simple and direct: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their individual funk is surpassed by their dog's, decide on a therapeutic trip to a canine-centric retreat. Once there, as expected, they will undoubtedly realize the idea that they are better together. Ensemble players – played by familiar faces – are crafted as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Visually is reminiscent of a branded content, with a Christmas setting that is clearly manufactured – think flurries clinging to green trees as North Carolina substitutes for a cold December city.
The Canine Charisma
If these standard ingredients coalesce into a pleasant experience rests upon the actors' work and one's taste for easy entertainment. Regarding the second aspect, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who seek out for cute animal clips. The film delivers a wealth of scenes focused on the pet. The primary selling point is the canine star, and even if it causes some clunky cuts between animal action and the actors' responses, the movie delivers on walking sequences, canine sorrow, and, in the end, doggie joy.
The Two-Legged Cast
This level of success cannot be applied for the romantic plot. The tone vacillates between serious study, broad humor, predictable love story, and outright slapstick, not quite landing a consistent feel. No blame falls on the actor playing Russ, who is willing to embrace the absurd and awkward inherent in the unusual premise. His performance contains a endearing lack of ego that provides much of the film's charm for this ostensibly perfect couple. Anna's portrayer, true to her usual style, imparts a distinctive offbeat energy that will either resonate with viewers. Her portrayal seems a bit too dry, especially when alongside Cox's genuine sadness. (It should be noted, Merv himself manages acting depressed – while no the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he's definitely a very good boy.)
The story strives to give weight to Anna and Russ's relationship for moments when the dog is absent – which is unfortunate, since the dog is easily the most adorable aspect of this feel-good picture. Expectedly, it achieves only baseline competence. The catalyst for the split might seem more nuanced with more screen time and fewer direct statements. As it stands, Merv is light and sugary, hitting all its marks. Crafting a story with this canine conflict is not terrible – though it's not exactly a great one either.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video this December.
