It is a common warning for numerous people that sharing custody a pet following a split is a terrible idea. Most will argue such arrangements hinder individuals from moving forward, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and are a nuisance across the board. Apparently, in a revelation suited to a streaming movie, it can even cause our furry friends to become depressed.
Without minimizing the inner life of animals – many owners speak of their remarkable empathy. To witness a prime example in pet despair, consider another performance. There is little doubt that a dog of Merv's nature, a spirited little dog portrayed by the canine actor Gus, would find it difficult adapting to life in two homes. Whether this premise an entire Christmas romance on such a setup holds water seems a questionable prospect.A Familiar Formula
To its credit, Merv, the work of Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and directed by playwright Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be deeper than what it is. We have here a holiday release from a streaming platform giant – the complexity is limited. The narrative proves to be uncomplicated: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their individual funk is matched by their dog's, decide on a therapeutic trip to a luxury pet hotel. At this location, predictably, they will undoubtedly stumble toward the idea that they belong with each other. The supporting cast – played by a group of comedic actors – fulfill roles the usual assortment of types. Visually is reminiscent of a streaming service original, with a wintry atmosphere that is visibly contrived – think obvious snow effects piled on green trees as a warm climate doubles as a cold December city.
The Canine Charisma
Whether these familiar elements come together into a pleasant experience rests upon the execution and the viewer's appetite for comfort viewing. Regarding the second aspect, Merv knows its audience – individuals who scroll endlessly for dog videos. The film delivers a wealth of scenes focused on the pet. The primary selling point is Merv himself, and though it results in some stilted moments between animal action and human reaction, the movie succeeds in showing walking sequences, dog depression, and, in the end, a tail-wagging resolution.
Where It Wobbles
Such effectiveness cannot be applied for the romantic plot. The tone vacillates between emotional depth, broad humor, predictable love story, and outright slapstick, failing to master a single genre. This is not Cox's performance, who is admirably committed the humiliating and funny demanded of the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a charming humility that provides a significant portion of the appeal for this on-the-rocks couple. Her co-star Deschanel, in her typical fashion, brings a particular brand of eccentricity that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna comes across as a bit too dry, especially when contrasted against Cox's vulnerable performance. (It should be noted, the canine performer succeeds in acting depressed – he may not be the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he is still an excellent dog.)
Merv tries to give weight to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – which is unfortunate, since the title character is by far the best part of this cute-aiming movie. Expectedly, it achieves only baseline competence. The cause for their original breakup might seem more adult and realistic with greater exploration and more subtle storytelling. As it stands, Merv is slight and sweet, hitting precisely what you anticipate. Creating a movie about dog co-parenting has potential – but I wouldn't call it a brilliant concept.
- Merv becomes available on Prime Video on December 10th.
