It is a common warning in certain circles that sharing custody a canine companion post-separation is a terrible idea. The consensus suggests such situations hinder ex-partners from moving forward, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and become annoying across the board. Seemingly, and in a twist suited to a streaming movie, it can even cause our furry friends to feel down.
Not to downplay the emotional well-being of our pets – countless people attest to their deep emotional capacity. For a prime example in dog sorrow, consider a past film. There is little doubt that a dog such as Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix portrayed by Gus the Dog, would have a hard time coping with life in two homes. The idea of basing an entire Christmas romance on this conflict holds water is rather doubtful.A Familiar Formula
Fairness demands noting, Merv, the work of its screenwriters and under the guidance of playwright Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be deeper than its premise. It functions as a seasonal offering from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the ambitions remains surface-level. The plot unfolds as uncomplicated: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their post-breakup gloom is matched by their dog's, take a therapeutic trip to a dog-friendly resort. At this location, predictably, they will undoubtedly stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. Ensemble players – played by a group of comedic actors – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. The film's look has the quality of a branded content, with a Christmas setting that is clearly manufactured – as seen in fake snow surrounding green trees as North Carolina doubles as a cold December city.
The Dog's Domain
How these familiar elements merge into a pleasant experience hinges on the execution and one's taste for cinematic comfort food. Regarding the second aspect, Merv targets a specific viewer – individuals who scroll endlessly for dog videos. It provides a series of scenes focused on the pet. The primary selling point is the canine star, and while this leads to some awkward editing between animal action and the actors' responses, the movie succeeds in showing canine party antics, canine sorrow, and, in the end, a tail-wagging resolution.
Where It Wobbles
This level of success is not earned for the human side of the story. The film's approach shifts uneasily between serious study, broad humor, formulaic romance, and outright slapstick, not quite landing a consistent feel. This is not Charlie Cox, who is admirably committed the humiliating and funny inherent in the unusual premise. His performance contains a charming humility that offers much of the film's charm for this seemingly ideal couple. Her co-star Deschanel, in her typical fashion, brings a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal seems a little too aloof, particularly when paired with Cox's genuine sadness. (On another note, Merv himself manages looking despondent – not quite a canine thespian of that caliber, he's definitely a very good boy.)
The film attempts to give weight to the couple's history for scenes without their pet – a regrettable choice, since Merv is by far the cutest element of this cute-aiming movie. Unsurprisingly, it achieves only baseline competence. The reason for their separation would feel more nuanced with less exposition and more subtle storytelling. As it stands, Merv is light and sugary, hitting precisely what you anticipate. Making a film with this canine conflict has potential – but I wouldn't call it a great one either.
- Merv premieres on the Amazon platform starting December 10.
