It is an often-repeated piece of advice among many that co-parenting a dog post-separation is a terrible idea. Most will argue such setups prevent ex-partners from finding closure, cause practical headaches, fuel disputes, and become annoying for all parties. As it turns out, in a revelation worthy of a streaming movie, it can even cause the canine in question to become depressed.
Without minimizing the emotional well-being of animals – countless people attest to their deep emotional capacity. For a masterclass in dog sorrow, consider a past film. It seems certain that a dog like Merv, a spirited little dog brought to life by the canine actor Gus, would struggle adjusting to divided living arrangements. Whether this premise an entire Christmas romance on such a setup is sustainable is rather doubtful.A Familiar Formula
Honestly, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and directed by Jessica Swale, never aspires to be more profound than its premise. We have here a seasonal offering from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the ambitions is limited. The narrative is destined to be simple and direct: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their individual funk is matched by their dog's, decide on a uplifting getaway to a dog-friendly resort. Once there, as expected, they will surely stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. The supporting cast – including a group of comedic actors – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic is reminiscent of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is visibly contrived – think fake snow surrounding verdant foliage as North Carolina doubles as a wintery Boston.
The Canine Charisma
If these standard ingredients merge into an entertaining watch hinges on the strength of the performances and one's taste for easy entertainment. On the latter point, Merv targets a specific viewer – individuals who seek out for dog videos. It provides a plethora of canine-centric sequences. The central draw is the dog, and while this leads to some awkward editing between what the dog does and human reaction, the movie does offer canine party antics, dog depression, and, finally, a tail-wagging resolution.
Where It Wobbles
Such effectiveness cannot be applied for the human side of the story. Its style vacillates between serious study, wacky comedy, standard rom-com beats, and silly gags, failing to master a consistent feel. The fault lies not with Charlie Cox, who is admirably committed the absurd and awkward inherent in the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a likable self-deprecation that provides the bulk of the chemistry for this on-the-rocks couple. Anna's portrayer, true to her usual style, injects a particular brand of eccentricity that will click for some but not others. The character can feel a bit too dry, especially when contrasted against Cox's genuine sadness. (For what it's worth, Gus the Dog manages acting depressed – not quite Messi from that acclaimed drama, he remains a scene-stealer.)
The film attempts to provide depth to Anna and Russ's relationship for moments when the dog is absent – a bit of a pity, considering the dog is by far the best part of this cute-aiming movie. As one might predict, it achieves only baseline competence. The reason for their separation might seem more adult and realistic with greater exploration and less blunt explanation. In the end, Merv is gentle and pleasant, fulfilling all its marks. Creating a movie with this canine conflict isn't a bad idea – even if I wouldn't call it a brilliant concept.
- Merv becomes available on the Amazon platform on December 10th.
