It is a common warning for numerous people that co-parenting a canine companion after a breakup is ill-advised. Experts frequently claim such setups hinder former couples from healing, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and are a nuisance for everyone involved. As it turns out, and in a twist worthy of a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to our furry friends to experience sadness.
While respecting the mental health of dogs – many owners speak of their deep emotional capacity. To witness a prime example in dog sorrow, consider a past film. It seems certain that a dog such as Merv, a spirited little dog brought to life by a talented dog named Gus, would struggle coping with divided living arrangements. The idea of basing an entire Christmas romance on such a setup works effectively remains debatable at best.Predictable Foundations
Fairness demands noting, Merv, the work of Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and directed by director Swale, doesn't pretend to be more profound than what it is. We have here a Christmas movie from a streaming platform giant – the depth are modest. The plot proves to be simple and direct: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their own sadness is matched by their dog's, decide on a therapeutic trip to a luxury pet hotel. There, inevitably, they will undoubtedly realize the idea that they belong with each other. Ensemble players – featuring familiar faces – serve as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. The film's look has the quality of a platform's in-house production, with a Christmas setting that is clearly manufactured – think fake snow surrounding lush pines as a warm climate doubles as a wintery Boston.
The Dog's Domain
How these familiar elements coalesce into a pleasant experience rests upon the execution and an acceptance of easy entertainment. On the latter point, Merv hones in on a demographic – the kind who browse regularly for pet content. Audiences receive a wealth of scenes focused on the pet. The main attraction is the canine star, and though it results in some stilted moments between the pet's "lines" and people's faces, the movie delivers on dog beach fun, pet moping, and, finally, doggie joy.
The Human Element
This level of success is not earned for the romantic plot. The film's approach shifts uneasily between emotional depth, wacky comedy, predictable love story, and physical comedy, not quite landing a consistent feel. This is not Cox's performance, who is willing to embrace the absurd and awkward inherent in the unusual premise. His performance contains a endearing lack of ego that provides the bulk of the chemistry for this ostensibly perfect couple. Her co-star Deschanel, in her typical fashion, imparts a distinctive offbeat energy that will click for some but not others. Her portrayal seems a little too aloof, notably when contrasted against Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (On another note, Merv himself succeeds in looking despondent – he may not be Messi from that acclaimed drama, he's definitely a scene-stealer.)
Merv tries to provide depth to the central romance for moments when the dog is absent – a bit of a pity, considering Merv is easily the cutest element of this film designed for charm. Unsurprisingly, it achieves only baseline competence. The cause for their separation might seem more nuanced with less exposition and fewer direct statements. Ultimately, Merv is gentle and pleasant, fulfilling every expected note. Creating a movie on this shared-custody premise is not terrible – though it's not exactly a great one either.
- Merv premieres on the Amazon platform starting December 10.
