This is a widely held belief in certain circles that jointly caring for a dog after a breakup is a recipe for trouble. The consensus suggests such arrangements hinder former couples from healing, lead to scheduling chaos, spark arguments, and prove frustrating for everyone involved. As it turns out, and in a twist suited to a streaming movie, it also makes our furry friends to become depressed.
Not to downplay the inner life of dogs – countless people speak of their remarkable empathy. To witness a masterclass in pet despair, simply recall recent cinema. I firmly believe that a dog like Merv, a spirited little dog brought to life by a talented dog named Gus, would struggle adjusting to split households. Whether this premise an entire Christmas romance on this conflict works effectively is a questionable prospect.Predictable Foundations
Honestly, Merv, crafted by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and directed by playwright Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims deeper than what it is. It functions as a Christmas movie from a corporate studio – the ambitions is limited. The narrative is destined to be straightforward: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their post-breakup gloom is rivaled only by their dog's, embark on a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. At this location, predictably, they will undoubtedly realize the idea that they are better together. Side characters – featuring familiar faces – serve as the usual assortment of types. Visually is reminiscent of a branded content, with a wintry atmosphere that is visibly contrived – think flurries clinging to green trees as a summer location stands in for the Northeast.
The Dog's Domain
How these standard ingredients come together into an entertaining watch hinges on the strength of the performances and the viewer's appetite for comfort viewing. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – individuals who seek out for cute animal clips. Audiences receive a plethora of adorable dog montages. The primary selling point is Merv himself, and though it results in some awkward editing between what the dog does and the actors' responses, the movie succeeds in showing canine party antics, canine sorrow, and, ultimately, pure puppy happiness.
Where It Wobbles
This level of success cannot be applied for the human side of the story. The film's approach wavers between relationship drama, wacky comedy, formulaic romance, and physical comedy, not quite landing a single genre. This is not Cox's performance, who is willing to embrace the absurd and awkward demanded of the dog resort scenario. He brings a endearing lack of ego that supplies the bulk of the chemistry for this on-the-rocks couple. Zooey Deschanel, as is her trademark, brings a particular brand of eccentricity that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna comes across as a touch too detached, particularly when paired with Cox's genuine sadness. (For what it's worth, Merv himself is convincing at flopping and whining – while no a canine thespian of that caliber, he remains a very good boy.)
The film attempts to add substance to Anna and Russ's relationship for scenes without their pet – a regrettable choice, since Merv is undoubtedly the cutest element of this feel-good picture. Unsurprisingly, it meets the bare minimum. The reason for the split could have been more grounded and mature with less exposition and fewer direct statements. Ultimately, Merv is gentle and pleasant, hitting all its marks. Making a film on this shared-custody premise isn't a bad idea – but it's hardly a brilliant concept.
- Merv premieres on Prime Video on December 10th.
