This is a widely held belief for numerous people that co-parenting a canine companion post-separation is ill-advised. Most will argue such situations impede former couples from healing, lead to scheduling chaos, spark arguments, and prove frustrating for all parties. Seemingly, in a revelation fit for a direct-to-platform film, it also makes the dogs themselves to feel down.
Without minimizing the mental health of dogs – countless people observe their remarkable empathy. To witness a standout portrayal in dog sorrow, consider another performance. There is little doubt that a dog such as Merv, a scruffy terrier type played by Gus the Dog, would have a hard time adjusting to split households. The idea of basing an entire Christmas romance on this conflict is sustainable is a questionable prospect.A Familiar Formula
To its credit, Merv, written by the writing duo and helmed by Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims anything more than a light film. It functions as a Christmas movie from a streaming platform giant – the ambitions is limited. The narrative is destined to be uncomplicated: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their own sadness is surpassed by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a canine-centric retreat. At this location, predictably, they will presumably rediscover the idea that they should reunite. Side characters – featuring familiar faces – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic carries the feel of a branded content, with a holiday backdrop that is obviously artificial – exemplified by flurries piled on green trees as North Carolina substitutes for a cold December city.
The Canine Charisma
If these predictable parts merge into a pleasant experience depends on the strength of the performances and the viewer's appetite for comfort viewing. On the latter point, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who scroll endlessly for pet content. The film delivers a wealth of adorable dog montages. The main attraction is the canine star, and even if it causes some stilted moments between the pet's "lines" and people's faces, the movie succeeds in showing walking sequences, pet moping, and, ultimately, doggie joy.
The Human Element
The same praise does not extend for the romantic plot. Its style wavers between serious study, broad humor, predictable love story, and silly gags, failing to master any one mode. This is not Charlie Cox, who is willing to embrace the absurd and awkward required by the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a likable self-deprecation that provides the bulk of the chemistry for this seemingly ideal couple. Anna's portrayer, true to her usual style, imparts a particular brand of eccentricity that will either resonate with viewers. The character comes across as a touch too detached, especially when paired with Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (For what it's worth, Merv himself manages looking despondent – he may not be the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he's definitely an excellent dog.)
Merv tries to add substance to the couple's history for scenes without their pet – a regrettable choice, given that the dog is undoubtedly the best part of this cute-aiming movie. As one might predict, it achieves only baseline competence. The cause for their original breakup might seem more nuanced with greater exploration and less blunt explanation. In the end, Merv is gentle and pleasant, fulfilling precisely what you anticipate. Creating a movie about dog co-parenting isn't a bad idea – even if it's hardly a stroke of genius.
- Merv premieres on Prime Video this December.
