It is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that sharing custody a dog following a split is a recipe for trouble. Experts frequently claim such arrangements impede former couples from healing, create logistical nightmares, spark arguments, and are a nuisance for all parties. Seemingly, as a development suited to a streaming movie, it can even cause our furry friends to feel down.
While respecting the inner life of our pets – countless people observe their remarkable empathy. If you need standout portrayal in canine melancholy, simply recall a past film. I firmly believe that a dog of Merv's nature, a spirited little dog played by Gus the Dog, would find it difficult coping with life in two homes. Whether this premise an entire Christmas romance on such a setup works effectively seems rather doubtful.Predictable Foundations
Fairness demands noting, Merv, the work of its screenwriters and helmed by director Swale, makes no grand claims anything more than what it is. We have here a Christmas movie from a corporate studio – the depth are modest. Its storyline unfolds as straightforward: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their post-breakup gloom is rivaled only by their dog's, decide on a uplifting getaway to a canine-centric retreat. There, inevitably, they will presumably rediscover the idea that they should reunite. Side characters – played by familiar faces – are crafted as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Visually carries the feel of a branded content, with a holiday backdrop that is obviously artificial – think flurries piled on verdant foliage as a warm climate doubles as a wintery Boston.
The Dog's Domain
If these familiar elements come together into an entertaining watch hinges on the execution and the viewer's appetite for cinematic comfort food. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – individuals who seek out for cute animal clips. It provides a series of scenes focused on the pet. The central draw is the canine star, and while this leads to some awkward editing between the pet's "lines" and people's faces, the movie delivers on dog beach fun, pet moping, and, in the end, pure puppy happiness.
The Two-Legged Cast
This level of success cannot be applied for the interpersonal drama. Its style shifts uneasily between relationship drama, zany antics, predictable love story, and silly gags, failing to master a consistent feel. This is not Charlie Cox, who is fully game the silliness and cringe inherent in the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a endearing lack of ego that provides the bulk of the chemistry for this seemingly ideal couple. Zooey Deschanel, in her typical fashion, brings a certain millennial quirkiness that will either resonate with viewers. Her portrayal comes across as a touch too detached, particularly when alongside Cox's vulnerable performance. (For what it's worth, the canine performer succeeds in acting depressed – not quite a canine thespian of that caliber, he remains an excellent dog.)
Merv tries to provide depth to Anna and Russ's relationship for moments when the dog is absent – which is unfortunate, given that the dog is by far the best part of this cute-aiming movie. As one might predict, it achieves only baseline competence. The catalyst for their separation would feel more adult and realistic with less exposition and more subtle storytelling. As it stands, Merv is slight and sweet, hitting every expected note. Crafting a story on this shared-custody premise is not terrible – even if it's not exactly a stroke of genius.
- Merv premieres on Amazon Prime Video starting December 10.
