This is an often-repeated piece of advice in certain circles that co-parenting a pet after a breakup is a terrible idea. Most will argue such setups hinder former couples from moving forward, create logistical nightmares, spark arguments, and become annoying for everyone involved. Apparently, as a development fit for a direct-to-platform film, it also makes the canine in question to experience sadness.
While respecting the emotional well-being of our pets – many owners observe their remarkable empathy. For a standout portrayal in canine melancholy, consider another performance. It seems certain that a dog of Merv's nature, a spirited little dog portrayed by a talented dog named Gus, would have a hard time coping with split households. Whether this premise an entire Christmas romance on such a setup holds water seems debatable at best.Predictable Foundations
To its credit, Merv, the work of Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and under the guidance of playwright Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be deeper than what it is. It functions as a seasonal offering from a streaming platform giant – the complexity are modest. Its storyline proves to be uncomplicated: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their individual funk is surpassed by their dog's, take a therapeutic trip to a canine-centric retreat. Once there, as expected, they will presumably stumble toward the idea that they belong with each other. Ensemble players – featuring familiar faces – are crafted as the usual assortment of types. Its aesthetic has the quality of a branded content, with a holiday backdrop that is visibly contrived – think flurries clinging to lush pines as North Carolina substitutes for a wintery Boston.
The Canine Charisma
How these standard ingredients merge into something enjoyable depends on the strength of the performances and one's taste for easy entertainment. On the latter point, Merv hones in on a demographic – those people who browse regularly for cute animal clips. It provides a series of adorable dog montages. The main attraction is Merv himself, and while this leads to some stilted moments between what the dog does and the actors' responses, the movie delivers on walking sequences, pet moping, and, in the end, pure puppy happiness.
The Human Element
This level of success does not extend for the romantic plot. The film's approach shifts uneasily between relationship drama, broad humor, standard rom-com beats, and physical comedy, not quite landing a consistent feel. This is not Cox's performance, who is willing to embrace the absurd and awkward demanded of the bizarre setting. Cox exhibits a charming humility that offers the bulk of the chemistry for this on-the-rocks couple. Anna's portrayer, in her typical fashion, injects a particular brand of eccentricity that will click for some but not others. Her Anna comes across as a touch too detached, especially when alongside Cox's genuine sadness. (On another note, Gus the Dog manages looking despondent – while no a canine thespian of that caliber, he is still a very good boy.)
Merv tries to give weight to the central romance for scenes without their pet – which is unfortunate, since the title character is undoubtedly the cutest element of this cute-aiming movie. As one might predict, it achieves only baseline competence. The reason for the split could have been more grounded and mature with more screen time and more subtle storytelling. In the end, Merv is light and sugary, hitting precisely what you anticipate. Creating a movie on this shared-custody premise isn't a bad idea – though it's hardly a great one either.
- Merv becomes available on Amazon Prime Video starting December 10.
