It is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that sharing custody a dog post-separation is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such arrangements prevent individuals from healing, create logistical nightmares, spark arguments, and are a nuisance across the board. Seemingly, as a development fit for a streaming movie, it also makes our furry friends to experience sadness.
While respecting the emotional well-being of dogs – countless people attest to their remarkable empathy. If you need masterclass in pet despair, consider another performance. I firmly believe that a dog such as Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix brought to life by Gus the Dog, would struggle coping with divided living arrangements. If this concept an entire Christmas romance on this conflict is sustainable is a questionable prospect.Predictable Foundations
Fairness demands noting, Merv, the work of the writing duo and directed by Jessica Swale, never aspires to be deeper than its premise. We have here a holiday release from a streaming platform giant – the ambitions is limited. The narrative unfolds as uncomplicated: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their individual funk is surpassed by their dog's, decide on a therapeutic trip to a canine-centric retreat. At this location, predictably, they will presumably realize the idea that they belong with each other. Side characters – including a group of comedic actors – serve as the usual assortment of types. Visually is reminiscent of a streaming service original, with a wintry atmosphere that is obviously artificial – think obvious snow effects clinging to verdant foliage as a warm climate stands in for a wintery Boston.
The Dog's Domain
If these predictable parts coalesce into an entertaining watch hinges on the execution and one's taste for easy entertainment. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who seek out for cute animal clips. Audiences receive a series of scenes focused on the pet. The central draw is Merv himself, and even if it causes some awkward editing between animal action and people's faces, the movie delivers on canine party antics, dog depression, and, finally, a tail-wagging resolution.
Where It Wobbles
Such effectiveness does not extend for the human side of the story. The tone vacillates between emotional depth, wacky comedy, formulaic romance, and silly gags, failing to master a single genre. This is not Charlie Cox, who is fully game the silliness and cringe inherent in the unusual premise. His performance contains a likable self-deprecation that supplies the bulk of the chemistry for this seemingly ideal couple. Anna's portrayer, as is her trademark, imparts a distinctive offbeat energy that will either resonate with viewers. Her portrayal can feel a touch too detached, especially when contrasted against Cox's vulnerable performance. (It should be noted, Gus the Dog succeeds in acting depressed – while no the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he remains a scene-stealer.)
The film attempts to add substance to the couple's history for moments when the dog is absent – a bit of a pity, considering Merv is by far the cutest element of this cute-aiming movie. As one might predict, it just about gets by. The reason for their original breakup could have been more adult and realistic with less exposition and more subtle storytelling. Ultimately, Merv is slight and sweet, hitting all its marks. Creating a movie on this shared-custody premise has potential – even if it's hardly a great one either.
- Merv premieres on the Amazon platform on December 10th.
