This is a common warning in certain circles that jointly caring for a pet following a split is ill-advised. Experts frequently claim such setups prevent ex-partners from finding closure, lead to scheduling chaos, spark arguments, and become annoying across the board. As it turns out, as a development suited to a streaming movie, it can even cause the canine in question to become depressed.
While respecting the mental health of our pets – many owners speak of their deep emotional capacity. If you need standout portrayal in dog sorrow, consider a past film. It seems certain that a dog such as Merv, a spirited little dog portrayed by Gus the Dog, would find it difficult adapting to divided living arrangements. Whether this premise an entire Christmas romance around this situation works effectively is debatable at best.Standard Holiday Fare
Fairness demands noting, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and directed by playwright Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims more profound than its premise. It functions as a seasonal offering from a corporate studio – the complexity are modest. The plot is destined to be simple and direct: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their own sadness is rivaled only by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. At this location, predictably, they will undoubtedly rediscover the idea that they are better together. The supporting cast – featuring familiar faces – serve as the usual assortment of types. The film's look is reminiscent of a streaming service original, with a wintry atmosphere that is clearly manufactured – think flurries piled on green trees as North Carolina stands in for a cold December city.
The Canine Charisma
Whether these familiar elements coalesce into an entertaining watch hinges on the execution and one's taste for cinematic comfort food. Regarding the second aspect, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who scroll endlessly for pet content. Audiences receive a series of adorable dog montages. The main attraction is Merv himself, and even if it causes some stilted moments between the pet's "lines" and people's faces, the movie does offer canine party antics, pet moping, and, finally, doggie joy.
The Two-Legged Cast
This level of success is not earned for the human side of the story. The tone shifts uneasily between relationship drama, broad humor, predictable love story, and silly gags, not quite landing any one mode. This is not Cox's performance, who is fully game the humiliating and funny required by the unusual premise. 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, imparts a distinctive offbeat energy that will click for some but not others. Her Anna can feel a little too aloof, notably when paired with Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (For what it's worth, the canine performer is convincing at acting depressed – while no a canine thespian of that caliber, he's definitely a very good boy.)
The story strives to add substance to Anna and Russ's relationship for scenes without their pet – which is unfortunate, given that the title character is undoubtedly the cutest element of this feel-good picture. As one might predict, it achieves only baseline competence. The cause for the split would feel more adult and realistic with more screen time and fewer direct statements. Ultimately, Merv is slight and sweet, meeting precisely what you anticipate. Crafting a story on this shared-custody premise has potential – even if it's not exactly a great one either.
- Merv premieres on Amazon Prime Video on December 10th.
