This is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that co-parenting a canine companion following a split is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such setups prevent former couples from finding closure, create logistical nightmares, fuel disputes, and prove frustrating for all parties. Seemingly, in a revelation fit for a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to the dogs themselves to become depressed.
While respecting the mental health of animals – pet parents observe their deep emotional capacity. For a standout portrayal in pet despair, one need only look another performance. There is little doubt that a dog like Merv, a scruffy terrier type played by the canine actor Gus, would have a hard time adjusting to split households. The idea of basing an entire Christmas romance on this conflict holds water is debatable at best.Predictable Foundations
Fairness demands noting, Merv, written by its screenwriters and helmed by Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be anything more than what it is. It functions as a holiday release from a streaming platform giant – the complexity remains surface-level. Its storyline is destined to be simple and direct: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their individual funk is surpassed by their dog's, decide on a therapeutic trip to a canine-centric retreat. Once there, as expected, they will presumably rediscover the idea that they belong with each other. The supporting cast – featuring Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – serve as the usual assortment of types. Its aesthetic is reminiscent of a branded content, with a wintry atmosphere that is visibly contrived – as seen in flurries clinging to green trees as North Carolina doubles as the Northeast.
The Dog's Domain
Whether these standard ingredients coalesce into an entertaining watch rests upon the execution and the viewer's appetite for cinematic comfort food. For the comfort factor, Merv hones in on a demographic – individuals who browse regularly for pet content. Audiences receive a series of canine-centric sequences. The primary selling point is the dog, and though it results in some clunky cuts between the pet's "lines" and human reaction, the movie does offer walking sequences, pet moping, and, finally, a tail-wagging resolution.
Where It Wobbles
The same praise does not extend for the interpersonal drama. The tone vacillates between relationship drama, zany antics, predictable love story, and physical comedy, not quite landing a single genre. The fault lies not with Charlie Cox, who is willing to embrace the absurd and awkward inherent in the unusual premise. His performance contains a endearing lack of ego that provides much of the film's charm for this on-the-rocks couple. Anna's portrayer, as is her trademark, imparts a certain millennial quirkiness that will either resonate with viewers. Her portrayal seems a bit too dry, notably when contrasted against Cox's vulnerable performance. (On another note, the canine performer is convincing at looking despondent – while no the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he is still an excellent dog.)
Merv tries to provide depth to the couple's history for moments when the dog is absent – a regrettable choice, since the title character is by far the most adorable aspect of this cute-aiming movie. As one might predict, it just about gets by. The catalyst for their original breakup could have been more nuanced with less exposition and fewer direct statements. In the end, Merv is light and sugary, hitting precisely what you anticipate. Making a film with this canine conflict is not terrible – though it's not exactly a great one either.
- Merv becomes available on Prime Video on December 10th.
