It is a common warning for numerous people that jointly caring for a pet following a split is ill-advised. Experts frequently claim such arrangements prevent former couples from moving forward, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and are a nuisance for everyone involved. Apparently, in a revelation suited to a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to the canine in question to feel down.
While respecting the emotional well-being of dogs – countless people observe their remarkable empathy. To witness a masterclass in pet despair, one need only look another performance. It seems certain that a dog of Merv's nature, a spirited little dog brought to life by Gus the Dog, would struggle adjusting to divided living arrangements. The idea of basing an entire Christmas romance on this conflict holds water seems debatable at best.Standard Holiday Fare
Honestly, Merv, the work of Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and helmed by director Swale, never aspires to be more profound than its premise. It functions as a Christmas movie from a streaming platform giant – the complexity are modest. Its storyline proves to be uncomplicated: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their individual funk is rivaled only by their dog's, decide on a uplifting getaway to a luxury pet hotel. At this location, predictably, they will surely stumble toward the idea that they are better together. Ensemble players – featuring Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – fulfill roles quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. The film's look has the quality of a streaming service original, with a holiday backdrop that is clearly manufactured – exemplified by flurries surrounding verdant foliage as a warm climate substitutes for a cold December city.
The Canine Charisma
How these predictable parts merge into something enjoyable depends on the actors' work and one's taste for easy entertainment. On the latter point, Merv hones in on a demographic – individuals who scroll endlessly for dog videos. The film delivers a wealth of scenes focused on the pet. The central draw is the canine star, and even if it causes some clunky cuts between what the dog does and people's faces, the movie delivers on walking sequences, dog depression, and, ultimately, doggie joy.
Where It Wobbles
Such effectiveness is not earned for the romantic plot. Its style vacillates between relationship drama, zany antics, formulaic romance, and physical comedy, never fully committing to any one mode. This is not Charlie Cox, who is willing to embrace the absurd and awkward inherent in the unusual premise. Cox exhibits a likable self-deprecation that supplies much of the film's charm for this on-the-rocks couple. Her co-star Deschanel, in her typical fashion, brings a particular brand of eccentricity that will either resonate with viewers. Her Anna comes across as a bit too dry, especially when alongside Cox's genuine sadness. (It should be noted, the canine performer manages flopping and whining – not quite a canine thespian of that caliber, he remains an excellent dog.)
The story strives to give weight to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – which is unfortunate, considering the dog is undoubtedly the best part of this cute-aiming movie. As one might predict, it meets the bare minimum. The reason for their separation could have been more adult and realistic with more screen time and more subtle storytelling. Ultimately, Merv is light and sugary, hitting precisely what you anticipate. Crafting a story on this shared-custody premise is not terrible – but it's hardly a brilliant concept.
- Merv becomes available on Amazon Prime Video starting December 10.
