This is a widely held belief among many that jointly caring for a canine companion following a split is a terrible idea. Most will argue such arrangements hinder ex-partners from moving forward, create logistical nightmares, lead to tension, and become annoying across the board. Seemingly, and in a twist fit for a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to the canine in question to feel down.
While respecting the inner life of our pets – pet parents speak of their remarkable empathy. If you need prime example in dog sorrow, simply recall recent cinema. It seems certain that a dog like Merv, a scruffy terrier type played by a talented dog named Gus, would struggle coping with split households. If this concept a full holiday film on such a setup is sustainable is a questionable prospect.Standard Holiday Fare
Fairness demands noting, Merv, written by the writing duo and under the guidance of director Swale, doesn't pretend to be deeper than what it is. It functions as a Christmas movie from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the complexity are modest. The plot proves to be uncomplicated: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their own sadness is rivaled only by their dog's, decide on a uplifting getaway to a canine-centric retreat. Once there, as expected, they will surely stumble toward the idea that they are better together. Side characters – including Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – fulfill roles quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually is reminiscent of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is clearly manufactured – think flurries clinging to green trees as North Carolina substitutes for a cold December city.
The Dog's Domain
Whether these standard ingredients come together into a pleasant experience hinges on the execution and one's taste for easy entertainment. On the latter point, Merv knows its audience – those people who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. It provides a plethora of canine-centric sequences. The primary selling point is the canine star, and while this leads to some stilted moments between the pet's "lines" and the actors' responses, the movie does offer canine party antics, canine sorrow, and, ultimately, doggie joy.
The Human Element
Such effectiveness cannot be applied for the interpersonal drama. Its style wavers between emotional depth, wacky comedy, formulaic romance, and physical comedy, failing to master any one mode. The fault lies not with Charlie Cox, who is fully game the absurd and awkward required by the unusual premise. Cox exhibits a endearing lack of ego that provides a significant portion of the appeal for this seemingly ideal couple. Anna's portrayer, true to her usual style, brings a distinctive offbeat energy that will click for some but not others. The character can feel a touch too detached, particularly when contrasted against Cox's genuine sadness. (On another note, Gus the Dog manages looking despondent – he may not be Messi from that acclaimed drama, he is still a very good boy.)
Merv tries to provide depth to the central romance for scenes without their pet – a bit of a pity, since the dog is by far the best part of this cute-aiming movie. As one might predict, it just about gets by. The catalyst for their original breakup might seem more adult and realistic with less exposition and fewer direct statements. As it stands, Merv is light and sugary, hitting every expected note. Creating a movie with this canine conflict is not terrible – but I wouldn't call it a great one either.
- Merv premieres on Amazon Prime Video on December 10th.
