It is a common warning among many that sharing custody a pet after a breakup is ill-advised. Most will argue such situations impede individuals from healing, cause practical headaches, fuel disputes, and become annoying for all parties. Apparently, and in a twist suited to a streaming movie, it can even cause the canine in question to experience sadness.
Without minimizing the inner life of animals – pet parents speak of their deep emotional capacity. To witness a standout portrayal in dog sorrow, simply recall recent cinema. I firmly believe that a dog such as Merv, a spirited little dog portrayed by the canine actor Gus, would struggle adapting to divided living arrangements. If this concept an entire Christmas romance on this conflict holds water seems rather doubtful.Predictable Foundations
To its credit, Merv, the work of its screenwriters and under the guidance of director Swale, doesn't pretend to be anything more than a light film. It functions as a Christmas movie from a corporate studio – the depth remains surface-level. The narrative unfolds as uncomplicated: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their individual funk is matched by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a dog-friendly resort. There, inevitably, they will undoubtedly realize the idea that they belong with each other. Side characters – including a group of comedic actors – fulfill roles eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Visually is reminiscent of a branded content, with a Christmas setting that is clearly manufactured – exemplified by fake snow surrounding lush pines as a summer location stands in for the Northeast.
Where the Film Shines
How these predictable parts merge into a pleasant experience hinges on the actors' work and an acceptance of cinematic comfort food. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – individuals who seek out for cute animal clips. Audiences receive a plethora of canine-centric sequences. The main attraction is Merv himself, and even if it causes some clunky cuts between animal action and human reaction, the movie does offer walking sequences, canine sorrow, and, in the end, doggie joy.
Where It Wobbles
This level of success does not extend for the romantic plot. Its style wavers between serious study, zany antics, standard rom-com beats, and physical comedy, never fully committing to a single genre. This is not the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the silliness and cringe inherent in the bizarre setting. His performance contains a endearing lack of ego that supplies the bulk of the chemistry for this ostensibly perfect couple. Her co-star Deschanel, true to her usual style, injects a certain millennial quirkiness that will either resonate with viewers. Her portrayal can feel a bit too dry, especially when contrasted against Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (On another note, Gus the Dog succeeds in acting depressed – not quite a canine thespian of that caliber, he is still a scene-stealer.)
The story strives to provide depth to the couple's history for moments when the dog is absent – a regrettable choice, since the title character is by far the cutest element of this film designed for charm. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The cause for their original breakup might seem more nuanced with less exposition and less blunt explanation. As it stands, Merv is light and sugary, meeting every expected note. Creating a movie on this shared-custody premise is not terrible – even if I wouldn't call it a brilliant concept.
- Merv premieres on Amazon Prime Video on December 10th.
