It is a common warning among many that sharing custody a pet following a split is a terrible idea. Most will argue such setups prevent individuals from healing, create logistical nightmares, spark arguments, and are a nuisance for all parties. As it turns out, as a development suited to a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to our furry friends to feel down.
Not to downplay the inner life of our pets – countless people observe their profound sensitivity. For a standout portrayal in pet despair, consider another performance. There is little doubt that a dog like Merv, a scruffy terrier type brought to life by Gus the Dog, would find it difficult coping with split households. Whether this premise a feature-length romcom on such a setup holds water seems a questionable prospect.Predictable Foundations
Honestly, Merv, crafted by the writing duo and under the guidance of director Swale, doesn't pretend to be deeper than what it is. We have here a Christmas movie from a streaming platform giant – the ambitions is limited. Its storyline is destined to be simple and direct: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their post-breakup gloom is matched by their dog's, embark on a therapeutic trip to a canine-centric retreat. There, inevitably, they will undoubtedly stumble toward the idea that they belong with each other. Ensemble players – including familiar faces – fulfill roles quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually is reminiscent of a platform's in-house production, with a wintry atmosphere that is clearly manufactured – exemplified by fake snow clinging to verdant foliage as a warm climate stands in for the Northeast.
The Dog's Domain
How these standard ingredients merge into a pleasant experience 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 browse regularly for pet content. Audiences receive a plethora of scenes focused on the pet. The primary selling point is the dog, and though it results in some awkward editing between the pet's "lines" and people's faces, the movie does offer canine party antics, canine sorrow, and, finally, doggie joy.
The Two-Legged Cast
Such effectiveness is not earned for the human side of the story. The tone wavers between relationship drama, broad humor, formulaic romance, and silly gags, never fully committing to a consistent feel. The fault lies not with Cox's performance, who is fully game the humiliating and funny inherent in the dog resort scenario. Cox exhibits a charming humility that supplies a significant portion of the appeal for this seemingly ideal couple. Her co-star Deschanel, in her typical fashion, brings a certain millennial quirkiness that will either resonate with viewers. Her portrayal seems a bit too dry, especially when contrasted against Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (On another note, Merv himself succeeds in flopping and whining – he may not be a canine thespian of that caliber, he remains a scene-stealer.)
Merv tries to add substance to Anna and Russ's relationship for moments when the dog is absent – a regrettable choice, since the dog is by far the cutest element of this feel-good picture. As one might predict, it achieves only baseline competence. The cause for their original breakup might seem more adult and realistic with more screen time and fewer direct statements. As it stands, Merv is slight and sweet, hitting all its marks. Creating a movie with this canine conflict is not terrible – though I wouldn't call it a great one either.
- Merv streams on the Amazon platform on December 10th.
