It is a widely held belief for numerous people that sharing custody a canine companion after a breakup is ill-advised. Most will argue such situations impede individuals from finding closure, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and prove frustrating for all parties. As it turns out, in a revelation suited to a streaming movie, it can even cause our furry friends to become depressed.
While respecting the emotional well-being of our pets – pet parents observe their remarkable empathy. If you need standout portrayal in canine melancholy, consider a past film. I firmly believe that a dog of Merv's nature, a scruffy terrier type played by a talented dog named Gus, would find it difficult adjusting to life in two homes. If this concept an entire Christmas romance on this conflict holds water is rather doubtful.Standard Holiday Fare
To its credit, Merv, crafted by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and directed by director Swale, doesn't pretend to be anything more than its premise. This is a holiday release from a streaming platform giant – the depth are modest. Its storyline proves to be simple and direct: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their post-breakup gloom is rivaled only by their dog's, embark on a cheer-up vacation to a dog-friendly resort. Once there, as expected, they will surely rediscover the idea that they are better together. Ensemble players – played by familiar faces – fulfill roles the usual assortment of types. Its aesthetic carries the feel of a streaming service original, with a wintry atmosphere that is obviously artificial – exemplified by flurries clinging to lush pines as a warm climate stands in for a cold December city.
The Canine Charisma
How these standard ingredients coalesce into an entertaining watch rests upon the actors' work and the viewer's appetite for easy entertainment. On the latter point, Merv knows its audience – those people who browse regularly for cute animal clips. Audiences receive a wealth of adorable dog montages. The main attraction is the dog, and even if it causes some awkward editing between the pet's "lines" and human reaction, the movie delivers on walking sequences, dog depression, and, finally, doggie joy.
The Two-Legged Cast
This level of success does not extend for the interpersonal drama. The tone shifts uneasily between relationship drama, zany antics, standard rom-com beats, and physical comedy, not quite landing a single genre. No blame falls on the actor playing Russ, who is willing to embrace the absurd and awkward inherent in the unusual premise. He brings a charming humility that supplies the bulk of the chemistry for this ostensibly perfect couple. Anna's portrayer, true to her usual style, brings a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna can feel a little too aloof, especially when contrasted against Cox's vulnerable performance. (It should be noted, Merv himself is convincing at flopping and whining – while no a canine thespian of that caliber, he remains a scene-stealer.)
The story strives to give weight to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – which is unfortunate, given that the title character is by far the most adorable aspect of this cute-aiming movie. Expectedly, it achieves only baseline competence. The catalyst for their original breakup could have been more grounded and mature with more screen time and more subtle storytelling. Ultimately, Merv is slight and sweet, hitting all its marks. Crafting a story on this shared-custody premise isn't a bad idea – but it's not exactly a brilliant concept.
- Merv premieres on Prime Video on December 10th.
