It is a widely held belief among many that jointly caring for a dog after a breakup is a recipe for trouble. The consensus suggests such arrangements impede individuals from finding closure, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and prove frustrating for all parties. Seemingly, and in a twist fit for a streaming movie, it also makes the canine in question to experience sadness.
While respecting the emotional well-being of dogs – countless people observe their profound sensitivity. For a masterclass in canine melancholy, simply recall recent cinema. I firmly believe that a dog of Merv's nature, a wired-hair terrier mix portrayed by the canine actor Gus, would have a hard time adapting to divided living arrangements. If this concept an entire Christmas romance on this conflict works effectively is rather doubtful.A Familiar Formula
Honestly, Merv, written by the writing duo and under the guidance of Jessica Swale, never aspires to be anything more than its premise. It functions as a Christmas movie from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the ambitions is limited. The plot is destined to be straightforward: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their individual funk is surpassed by their dog's, decide on a therapeutic trip to a dog-friendly resort. There, inevitably, they will presumably rediscover the idea that they belong with each other. Side characters – featuring Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually carries the feel of a platform's in-house production, with a Christmas setting that is visibly contrived – think obvious snow effects clinging to green trees as a warm climate stands in for a wintery Boston.
Where the Film Shines
Whether these standard ingredients merge into an entertaining watch rests upon the execution and the viewer's appetite for cinematic comfort food. Regarding the second aspect, Merv hones in on a demographic – individuals who browse regularly for dog videos. The film delivers a wealth of canine-centric sequences. The primary selling point is Merv himself, and while this leads to some awkward editing between the pet's "lines" and people's faces, the movie succeeds in showing walking sequences, canine sorrow, and, ultimately, pure puppy happiness.
The Human Element
Such effectiveness does not extend for the romantic plot. The tone vacillates between emotional depth, wacky comedy, predictable love story, and silly gags, never fully committing to a single genre. The fault lies not with Cox's performance, who is admirably committed the humiliating and funny required by the dog resort scenario. Cox exhibits a charming humility that provides a significant portion of the appeal for this seemingly ideal couple. Her co-star Deschanel, true to her usual style, injects a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal comes across as a bit too dry, especially when paired with Cox's vulnerable performance. (On another note, Merv himself is convincing at looking despondent – not quite Messi from that acclaimed drama, he's definitely a very good boy.)
Merv tries to add substance to the central romance for moments when the dog is absent – a regrettable choice, considering Merv is by far the cutest element of this cute-aiming movie. Expectedly, it achieves only baseline competence. The cause for their original breakup might seem more nuanced with greater exploration and more subtle storytelling. As it stands, Merv is light and sugary, hitting every expected note. Creating a movie about dog co-parenting has potential – even if it's not exactly a brilliant concept.
- Merv premieres on Amazon Prime Video on December 10th.
