It is a widely held belief in certain circles that jointly caring for a pet post-separation is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such situations prevent individuals from healing, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and prove frustrating across the board. Seemingly, in a revelation fit for a streaming movie, it can even cause the canine in question to experience sadness.
Not to downplay the inner life of dogs – countless people observe their remarkable empathy. If you need standout portrayal in dog sorrow, one need only look recent cinema. I firmly believe that a dog such as Merv, a spirited little dog played by the canine actor Gus, would struggle adjusting to split households. The idea of basing an entire Christmas romance around this situation holds water is rather doubtful.Predictable Foundations
Honestly, Merv, the work of its screenwriters and under the guidance of Jessica Swale, never aspires to be anything more than its premise. This is a seasonal offering from a streaming platform giant – the complexity is limited. The plot is destined to be straightforward: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their post-breakup gloom is rivaled only by their dog's, take a uplifting getaway to a canine-centric retreat. At this location, predictably, they will presumably realize the idea that they are better together. Ensemble players – featuring Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – serve as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Its aesthetic carries the feel of a branded content, with a wintry atmosphere that is clearly manufactured – exemplified by fake snow surrounding green trees as North Carolina substitutes for the Northeast.
Where the Film Shines
If these standard ingredients coalesce into something enjoyable rests upon the actors' work and an acceptance of easy entertainment. On the latter point, Merv knows its audience – those people who seek out for cute animal clips. The film delivers a wealth of adorable dog montages. The central draw is the canine star, and while this leads to some clunky cuts between the pet's "lines" and the actors' responses, the movie does offer dog beach fun, canine sorrow, and, ultimately, doggie joy.
Where It Wobbles
Such effectiveness is not earned for the romantic plot. The film's approach vacillates between serious study, wacky comedy, predictable love story, and physical comedy, failing to master any one mode. This is not Charlie Cox, who is admirably committed the absurd and awkward demanded of the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a charming humility that supplies a significant portion of the appeal for this seemingly ideal couple. Zooey Deschanel, as is her trademark, brings a certain millennial quirkiness that will click for some but not others. Her portrayal can feel a touch too detached, especially when alongside Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (For what it's worth, the canine performer manages flopping and whining – while no Messi from that acclaimed drama, he remains an excellent dog.)
The film attempts to give weight to the central romance for sequences focusing solely on them – a bit of a pity, since the dog is easily the best part of this cute-aiming movie. Expectedly, it achieves only baseline competence. The cause for the split would feel more adult and realistic with less exposition and more subtle storytelling. As it stands, Merv is slight and sweet, fulfilling all its marks. Creating a movie on this shared-custody premise isn't a bad idea – though it's not exactly a brilliant concept.
- Merv becomes available on Prime Video on December 10th.
