This is a widely held belief in certain circles that sharing custody a canine companion following a split is a terrible idea. The consensus suggests such situations hinder ex-partners from moving forward, lead to scheduling chaos, spark arguments, and become annoying for all parties. Apparently, in a revelation suited to a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to the dogs themselves to feel down.
While respecting the inner life of our pets – countless people speak of their profound sensitivity. If you need standout portrayal in pet despair, one need only look recent cinema. There is little doubt that a dog of Merv's nature, a spirited little dog played by the canine actor Gus, would find it difficult adapting to divided living arrangements. Whether this premise an entire Christmas romance on this conflict works effectively remains a questionable prospect.A Familiar Formula
Honestly, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and under the guidance of director Swale, never aspires to be anything more than what it is. It functions as 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), forced to acknowledge that their individual funk is matched by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a dog-friendly resort. There, inevitably, they will surely stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. The supporting cast – played by a group of comedic actors – fulfill roles the usual assortment of types. Its aesthetic carries the feel of a branded content, with a Christmas setting that is obviously artificial – think fake snow surrounding lush pines as North Carolina stands in for the Northeast.
The Canine Charisma
Whether these predictable parts coalesce into an entertaining watch hinges on the strength of the performances and one's taste for comfort viewing. On the latter point, Merv knows its audience – those people who browse regularly for dog videos. Audiences receive a plethora of adorable dog montages. The primary selling point is the canine star, and while this leads to some clunky cuts between what the dog does and people's faces, the movie does offer walking sequences, canine sorrow, and, in the end, doggie joy.
The Human Element
Such effectiveness is not earned for the interpersonal drama. Its style vacillates between relationship drama, broad humor, formulaic romance, and outright slapstick, failing to master any one mode. The fault lies not with the actor playing Russ, who is admirably committed the silliness and cringe inherent in the dog resort scenario. Cox exhibits a endearing lack of ego that offers much of the film's charm for this ostensibly perfect couple. Zooey Deschanel, in her typical fashion, brings a certain millennial quirkiness that will click for some but not others. Her portrayal can feel a little too aloof, especially when paired with Cox's vulnerable performance. (It should be noted, the canine performer manages acting depressed – not quite Messi from that acclaimed drama, he remains a scene-stealer.)
The film attempts to add substance to the central romance for sequences focusing solely on them – which is unfortunate, since the title character is undoubtedly the most adorable aspect of this feel-good picture. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The cause for the split could have been more grounded and mature with less exposition and less blunt explanation. Ultimately, Merv is slight and sweet, hitting all its marks. Crafting a story with this canine conflict isn't a bad idea – even if it's hardly a stroke of genius.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video this December.
