This is an often-repeated piece of advice in certain circles that co-parenting a canine companion post-separation is a terrible idea. Experts frequently claim such setups hinder individuals from moving forward, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and prove frustrating for everyone involved. As it turns out, in a revelation worthy of a streaming movie, it also makes the dogs themselves to become depressed.
Without minimizing the inner life of animals – countless people observe their profound sensitivity. To witness a standout portrayal in canine melancholy, one need only look a past film. There is little doubt that a dog like Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix brought to life by a talented dog named Gus, would have a hard time adjusting to split households. The idea of basing a full holiday film around this situation is sustainable seems debatable at best.Predictable Foundations
Honestly, Merv, written by the writing duo and under the guidance of director Swale, makes no grand claims deeper than its premise. We have here a Christmas movie from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the complexity are modest. The narrative proves to be simple and direct: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their post-breakup gloom is rivaled only by their dog's, take a therapeutic trip to a dog-friendly resort. Once there, as expected, they will undoubtedly realize the idea that they are better together. Side characters – including Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – fulfill roles quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. The film's look has the quality of a branded content, with a wintry atmosphere that is clearly manufactured – think flurries surrounding lush pines as a warm climate substitutes for a wintery Boston.
Where the Film Shines
How these familiar elements come together into something enjoyable rests upon the strength of the performances and the viewer's appetite for cinematic comfort food. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who browse regularly for cute animal clips. Audiences receive a wealth of scenes focused on the pet. The primary selling point is the canine star, and while this leads to some stilted moments between animal action and the actors' responses, the movie succeeds in showing dog beach fun, dog depression, and, ultimately, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Two-Legged Cast
Such effectiveness does not extend for the human side of the story. The tone shifts uneasily between emotional depth, zany antics, formulaic romance, and physical comedy, never fully committing to a single genre. No blame falls on Charlie Cox, who is admirably committed the absurd and awkward required by the bizarre setting. Cox exhibits a charming humility that supplies much of the film's charm for this ostensibly perfect couple. Anna's portrayer, true to her usual style, imparts a particular brand of eccentricity that will click for some but not others. Her portrayal seems a little too aloof, particularly when paired with Cox's genuine sadness. (It should be noted, Gus the Dog manages acting depressed – not quite the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he remains a very good boy.)
The film attempts to add substance to Anna and Russ's relationship for sequences focusing solely on them – which is unfortunate, since the dog is undoubtedly the most adorable aspect of this feel-good picture. As one might predict, it achieves only baseline competence. The reason for their separation might seem more grounded and mature with more screen time and less blunt explanation. As it stands, Merv is light and sugary, hitting all its marks. Creating a movie with this canine conflict has potential – though I wouldn't call it a brilliant concept.
- Merv streams on Prime Video on December 10th.
