This is a widely held belief in certain circles that sharing custody a dog after a breakup is a recipe for trouble. The consensus suggests such setups prevent individuals from moving forward, lead to scheduling chaos, spark arguments, and are a nuisance for everyone involved. Apparently, in a revelation suited to a streaming movie, it also makes the dogs themselves to feel down.
Without minimizing the inner life of animals – pet parents attest to their remarkable empathy. For a standout portrayal in dog sorrow, simply recall recent cinema. I firmly believe that a dog such as Merv, a spirited little dog played by Gus the Dog, would struggle coping with life in two homes. The idea of basing an entire Christmas romance around this situation holds water is debatable at best.Standard Holiday Fare
Honestly, Merv, written by its screenwriters and directed by Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be more profound than what it is. This is a seasonal offering from a streaming platform giant – the depth remains surface-level. Its storyline proves to be straightforward: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their individual funk is rivaled only by their dog's, take a uplifting getaway to a dog-friendly resort. Once there, as expected, they will presumably stumble toward the idea that they are better together. Ensemble players – including Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – fulfill roles quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. The film's look carries the feel of a platform's in-house production, with a Christmas setting that is visibly contrived – as seen in fake snow clinging to lush pines as a summer location stands in for the Northeast.
The Dog's Domain
Whether these standard ingredients merge into something enjoyable rests upon the execution and an acceptance of cinematic comfort food. For the comfort factor, Merv knows its audience – the kind who scroll endlessly for pet content. The film delivers a wealth of canine-centric sequences. The main attraction is the dog, and while this leads to some awkward editing between animal action and people's faces, the movie does offer walking sequences, pet moping, and, ultimately, doggie joy.
The Two-Legged Cast
The same praise cannot be applied for the romantic plot. Its style shifts uneasily between serious study, zany antics, predictable love story, and physical comedy, not quite landing any one mode. This is not Cox's performance, who is fully game the humiliating and funny required by the unusual premise. He brings a likable self-deprecation that offers the bulk of the chemistry for this ostensibly perfect couple. Her co-star Deschanel, true to her usual style, injects a particular brand of eccentricity that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna seems a touch too detached, especially when contrasted against Cox's genuine sadness. (It should be noted, the canine performer manages looking despondent – he may not be a canine thespian of that caliber, he remains a scene-stealer.)
The story strives to give weight to the central romance for moments when the dog is absent – a regrettable choice, given that the dog is by far the most adorable aspect of this film designed for charm. As one might predict, it meets the bare minimum. The reason for the split could have been more grounded and mature with greater exploration and fewer direct statements. Ultimately, Merv is light and sugary, hitting 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 the Amazon platform this December.
