It is a common warning for numerous people that jointly caring for a dog post-separation is ill-advised. Experts frequently claim such arrangements impede individuals from finding closure, create logistical nightmares, lead to tension, and prove frustrating for all parties. Apparently, in a revelation fit for a streaming movie, it can even cause the canine in question to feel down.
Not to downplay the inner life of dogs – countless people speak of their remarkable empathy. If you need prime example in pet despair, consider 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. If this concept an entire Christmas romance on such a setup holds water seems a questionable prospect.Standard Holiday Fare
Honestly, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and directed by director Swale, makes no grand claims deeper than what it is. It functions as a holiday release from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the complexity are modest. The plot is destined to be uncomplicated: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their individual funk is matched by their dog's, take a therapeutic trip to a canine-centric retreat. There, inevitably, they will presumably rediscover the idea that they belong with each other. Side characters – including familiar faces – are crafted as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Visually has the quality of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is obviously artificial – as seen in fake snow clinging to verdant foliage as a warm climate substitutes for a wintery Boston.
The Canine Charisma
If these familiar elements merge into a pleasant experience depends on the actors' work and the viewer's appetite for comfort viewing. Regarding the second aspect, Merv knows its audience – the kind who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. The film delivers a series of adorable dog montages. The primary selling point is the dog, and though it results in some awkward editing between what the dog does and the actors' responses, the movie does offer dog beach fun, canine sorrow, and, ultimately, pure puppy happiness.
The Two-Legged Cast
This level of success cannot be applied for the romantic plot. Its style vacillates between relationship drama, wacky comedy, formulaic romance, and outright slapstick, failing to master a single genre. The fault lies not with Charlie Cox, who is admirably committed the humiliating and funny required by the unusual premise. His performance contains a likable self-deprecation that offers the bulk of the chemistry for this ostensibly perfect couple. Zooey Deschanel, true to her usual style, injects a distinctive offbeat energy that will either resonate with viewers. The character comes across as a touch too detached, particularly when contrasted against Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (On another note, Gus the Dog manages acting depressed – while no the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he remains an excellent dog.)
The story strives to provide depth to the central romance for scenes without their pet – a bit of a pity, considering Merv is undoubtedly the best part of this film designed for charm. Unsurprisingly, it meets the bare minimum. The catalyst for their separation could have been more nuanced with less exposition and more subtle storytelling. As it stands, Merv is light and sugary, hitting precisely what you anticipate. Creating a movie with this canine conflict is not terrible – even if I wouldn't call it a great one either.
- Merv streams on the Amazon platform starting December 10.
