This is a widely held belief in certain circles that jointly caring for a dog following a split is a terrible idea. Experts frequently claim such arrangements hinder former couples from moving forward, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and are a nuisance across the board. As it turns out, in a revelation fit for a streaming movie, it also makes the dogs themselves to feel down.
Not to downplay the mental health of dogs – countless people speak of their remarkable empathy. For a masterclass in pet despair, consider recent cinema. It seems certain that a dog like Merv, a scruffy terrier type brought to life by the canine actor Gus, would find it difficult coping with split households. If this concept an entire Christmas romance on this conflict is sustainable seems a questionable prospect.Predictable Foundations
To its credit, Merv, the work of its screenwriters and helmed by director Swale, doesn't pretend to be more profound than its premise. It functions as a holiday release from a corporate studio – the depth are modest. The narrative is destined to be uncomplicated: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their own sadness is surpassed by their dog's, decide on a uplifting getaway to a dog-friendly resort. There, inevitably, they will presumably stumble toward the idea that they are better together. The supporting cast – featuring a group of comedic actors – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually is reminiscent of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is obviously artificial – as seen in obvious snow effects surrounding lush pines as a warm climate substitutes for the Northeast.
The Dog's Domain
If these standard ingredients merge into an entertaining watch rests upon the execution and an acceptance of comfort viewing. On the latter point, Merv knows its audience – the kind who seek out for pet content. It provides a wealth of canine-centric sequences. The main attraction is Merv himself, and even if it causes some stilted moments between the pet's "lines" and the actors' responses, the movie does offer dog beach fun, canine sorrow, and, in the end, doggie joy.
The Two-Legged Cast
This level of success cannot be applied for the romantic plot. The film's approach vacillates between emotional depth, zany antics, predictable love story, and outright slapstick, not quite landing a single genre. No blame falls on Cox's performance, who is willing to embrace the silliness and cringe demanded of the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a endearing lack of ego that supplies the bulk of the chemistry for this ostensibly perfect couple. Her co-star Deschanel, as is her trademark, imparts a particular brand of eccentricity that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna comes across as a touch too detached, especially when contrasted against Cox's vulnerable performance. (For what it's worth, Merv himself is convincing at flopping and whining – while no Messi from that acclaimed drama, he's definitely a very good boy.)
The film attempts to add substance to Anna and Russ's relationship for sequences focusing solely on them – a regrettable choice, given that the title character is by far the most adorable aspect of this cute-aiming movie. Expectedly, it achieves only baseline competence. The reason for their separation could have been more grounded and mature with less exposition and less blunt explanation. In the end, Merv is light and sugary, meeting every expected note. Making a film about dog co-parenting isn't a bad idea – though it's hardly a great one either.
- Merv becomes available on Amazon Prime Video this December.
