This is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that jointly caring for a canine companion post-separation is ill-advised. Most will argue such situations hinder former couples from finding closure, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and become annoying for everyone involved. Apparently, and in a twist suited to a streaming movie, it can even cause our furry friends to feel down.
While respecting the inner life of dogs – countless people speak of their profound sensitivity. To witness a masterclass in pet despair, simply recall another performance. There is little doubt that a dog like Merv, a scruffy terrier type played by the canine actor Gus, would find it difficult adapting to split households. The idea of basing an entire Christmas romance on this conflict works effectively is a questionable prospect.A Familiar Formula
To its credit, Merv, written by the writing duo and helmed by Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be deeper than what it is. This is a Christmas movie from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the ambitions remains surface-level. Its storyline is destined to be straightforward: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their own sadness is rivaled only by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a dog-friendly resort. At this location, predictably, they will surely stumble toward the idea that they belong with each other. The supporting cast – including Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – serve as the usual assortment of types. The film's look carries the feel of a platform's in-house production, with a wintry atmosphere that is visibly contrived – think obvious snow effects surrounding verdant foliage as North Carolina doubles as the Northeast.
The Dog's Domain
How these familiar elements come together into something enjoyable rests upon the execution and one's taste for easy entertainment. For the comfort factor, Merv knows its audience – individuals who seek out for dog videos. The film delivers a wealth of scenes focused on the pet. The central draw is the canine star, and though it results in some clunky cuts between what the dog does and people's faces, the movie delivers on dog beach fun, dog depression, and, ultimately, doggie joy.
The Two-Legged Cast
Such effectiveness does not extend for the romantic plot. The tone vacillates between relationship drama, wacky comedy, formulaic romance, and silly gags, not quite landing a consistent feel. The fault lies not with Cox's performance, who is admirably committed the silliness and cringe required by the unusual premise. His performance contains a endearing lack of ego that supplies a significant portion of the appeal for this on-the-rocks couple. Zooey Deschanel, in her typical fashion, brings a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal comes across as a little too aloof, particularly when alongside Cox's genuine sadness. (For what it's worth, Merv himself succeeds in acting depressed – while no the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he is still a very good boy.)
The story strives to give weight to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – which is unfortunate, given that Merv is by far the most adorable aspect of this cute-aiming movie. As one might predict, it achieves only baseline competence. The cause for their separation might seem more adult and realistic with greater exploration and fewer direct statements. Ultimately, Merv is slight and sweet, meeting every expected note. Making a film with this canine conflict is not terrible – even if it's hardly a brilliant concept.
- Merv premieres on Amazon Prime Video this December.
