It is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that jointly caring for a dog after a breakup is a recipe for trouble. Experts frequently claim such situations hinder ex-partners from moving forward, cause practical headaches, fuel disputes, and become annoying for all parties. Apparently, in a revelation fit for a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to our furry friends to experience sadness.
Without minimizing the emotional well-being of animals – many owners attest to their deep emotional capacity. If you need masterclass in pet despair, simply recall recent cinema. There is little doubt that a dog such as Merv, a spirited little dog brought to life by the canine actor Gus, would find it difficult coping with life in two homes. Whether this premise an entire Christmas romance on such a setup is sustainable seems debatable at best.A Familiar Formula
To its credit, Merv, written by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and under the guidance of director Swale, doesn't pretend to be anything more than what it is. This is a Christmas movie from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the complexity are modest. The plot proves to be straightforward: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their individual funk is rivaled only by their dog's, embark on a uplifting getaway to a canine-centric retreat. Once there, as expected, they will surely rediscover the idea that they are better together. Side characters – including familiar faces – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic carries the feel of a branded content, with a Christmas setting that is obviously artificial – think fake snow surrounding lush pines as a warm climate doubles as a cold December city.
The Canine Charisma
If these standard ingredients coalesce into an entertaining watch depends on the strength of the performances and one's taste for cinematic comfort food. On the latter point, Merv knows its audience – the kind who seek out for pet content. It provides a series of adorable dog montages. The main attraction is the dog, and though it results in some stilted moments between the pet's "lines" and people's faces, the movie does offer dog beach fun, pet moping, and, finally, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Two-Legged Cast
Such effectiveness cannot be applied for the human side of the story. Its style vacillates between relationship drama, broad humor, formulaic romance, and physical comedy, failing to master any one mode. The fault lies not with Cox's performance, who is admirably committed the humiliating and funny inherent in the unusual premise. Cox exhibits a endearing lack of ego that provides the bulk of the chemistry for this on-the-rocks couple. Anna's portrayer, in her typical fashion, brings a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal comes across as a touch too detached, particularly when paired with Cox's vulnerable performance. (It should be noted, Merv himself is convincing at flopping and whining – not quite the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he is still a very good boy.)
The story strives to add substance to the couple's history for scenes without their pet – a bit of a pity, considering the dog is by far the best part of this cute-aiming movie. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The catalyst for the split might seem more nuanced with greater exploration and less blunt explanation. In the end, Merv is gentle and pleasant, fulfilling every expected note. Crafting a story with this canine conflict isn't a bad idea – even if it's not exactly a great one either.
- Merv becomes available on Amazon Prime Video on December 10th.
