It is a widely held belief among many that sharing custody a dog post-separation is a terrible idea. Experts frequently claim such situations hinder former couples from finding closure, create logistical nightmares, lead to tension, and prove frustrating across the board. Seemingly, and in a twist fit for a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to our furry friends to feel down.
Without minimizing the inner life of dogs – many owners attest to their profound sensitivity. If you need prime example in dog sorrow, simply recall recent cinema. There is little doubt that a dog like Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix portrayed by a talented dog named Gus, would struggle adapting to divided living arrangements. Whether this premise an entire Christmas romance around this situation holds water is a questionable prospect.Standard Holiday Fare
Honestly, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and directed by playwright Jessica Swale, never aspires to be anything more than its premise. We have here a holiday release from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the ambitions is limited. Its storyline proves to be straightforward: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their own sadness is matched by their dog's, take a therapeutic trip to a dog-friendly resort. There, inevitably, they will surely rediscover the idea that they are better together. Side characters – played by Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – are crafted as the usual assortment of types. Visually carries the feel of a streaming service original, with a holiday backdrop that is obviously artificial – think fake snow surrounding green trees as a summer location doubles as a wintery Boston.
The Dog's Domain
How these predictable parts come together into a pleasant experience depends on the execution and one's taste for comfort viewing. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. It provides a wealth of canine-centric sequences. The primary selling point is Merv himself, and even if it causes some clunky cuts between animal action and people's faces, the movie delivers on canine party antics, canine sorrow, and, finally, doggie joy.
The Human Element
The same praise is not earned for the romantic plot. Its style wavers between serious study, 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 absurd and awkward inherent in the unusual premise. His performance contains a endearing lack of ego that offers much of the film's charm for this ostensibly perfect couple. Anna's portrayer, true to her usual style, injects a particular brand of eccentricity that will click for some but not others. Her Anna can feel a little too aloof, notably when contrasted against Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (It should be noted, Gus the Dog succeeds in looking despondent – he may not be a canine thespian of that caliber, he remains an excellent dog.)
The story strives to provide depth to the central romance for moments when the dog is absent – which is unfortunate, given that Merv is by far the most adorable aspect of this cute-aiming movie. As one might predict, it achieves only baseline competence. The catalyst for their original breakup would feel more adult and realistic with greater exploration and fewer direct statements. Ultimately, Merv is slight and sweet, fulfilling precisely what you anticipate. Creating a movie about dog co-parenting has potential – though I wouldn't call it a brilliant concept.
- Merv streams on Prime Video this December.
