It is a widely held belief among many that sharing custody a pet after a breakup is a terrible idea. Most will argue such situations impede individuals from healing, lead to scheduling chaos, spark arguments, and are a nuisance for all parties. As it turns out, in a revelation suited to a streaming movie, it can even cause the dogs themselves to become depressed.
While respecting the mental health of animals – countless people attest to their deep emotional capacity. If you need masterclass in pet despair, consider another performance. It seems certain that a dog such as Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix portrayed by the canine actor Gus, would find it difficult coping with split households. Whether this premise an entire Christmas romance on this conflict works effectively remains debatable at best.Predictable Foundations
Honestly, Merv, written by its screenwriters and under the guidance of director Swale, never aspires to be deeper than a light film. We have here a seasonal offering from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the ambitions is limited. The narrative unfolds as uncomplicated: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their individual funk is rivaled only by their dog's, embark on a cheer-up vacation to a dog-friendly resort. At this location, predictably, they will presumably stumble toward the idea that they are better together. Side characters – played by familiar faces – fulfill roles the usual assortment of types. Its aesthetic is reminiscent of a branded content, with a wintry atmosphere that is clearly manufactured – think flurries surrounding verdant foliage as a summer location doubles as a wintery Boston.
The Canine Charisma
Whether these predictable parts merge into a pleasant experience depends on the actors' work and the viewer's appetite for easy entertainment. For the comfort factor, Merv hones in on a demographic – individuals who browse regularly for pet content. The film delivers a plethora of canine-centric sequences. The central draw is the canine star, and though it results in some stilted moments between the pet's "lines" and human reaction, the movie delivers on dog beach fun, pet moping, and, in the end, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Human Element
Such effectiveness cannot be applied for the human side of the story. The tone vacillates between serious study, wacky comedy, predictable love story, and silly gags, failing to master any one mode. The fault lies not with Cox's performance, who is fully game the silliness and cringe inherent in the unusual premise. His performance contains a endearing lack of ego that provides the bulk of the chemistry for this seemingly ideal couple. Zooey Deschanel, in her typical fashion, injects a particular brand of eccentricity that will either resonate with viewers. The character comes across as a bit too dry, notably when paired with Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (For what it's worth, the canine performer manages acting depressed – not quite a canine thespian of that caliber, he is still an excellent dog.)
The film attempts to add substance to Anna and Russ's relationship for sequences focusing solely on them – a regrettable choice, since the dog is easily the cutest element of this feel-good picture. Unsurprisingly, it just about gets by. The catalyst for their separation could have been more nuanced with less exposition and more subtle storytelling. As it stands, Merv is gentle and pleasant, fulfilling every expected note. Crafting a story with this canine conflict isn't a bad idea – though it's hardly a stroke of genius.
- Merv streams on the Amazon platform starting December 10.
