This is a widely held belief for numerous people that jointly caring for a pet after a breakup is ill-advised. Experts frequently claim such setups impede individuals from finding closure, cause practical headaches, fuel disputes, and prove frustrating for all parties. Apparently, in a revelation fit for a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause the dogs themselves to become depressed.
While respecting the mental health of our pets – pet parents speak of their remarkable empathy. To witness a standout portrayal in canine melancholy, simply recall a past film. It seems certain that a dog such as Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix played by a talented dog named Gus, would have a hard time adapting to divided living arrangements. The idea of basing an entire Christmas romance on such a setup holds water is debatable at best.A Familiar Formula
To its credit, Merv, written by the writing duo and helmed by playwright Jessica Swale, never aspires to be anything more than what it is. It functions as a Christmas movie from a corporate studio – the ambitions is limited. The narrative is destined to be uncomplicated: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their post-breakup gloom is rivaled only by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a canine-centric retreat. There, inevitably, they will presumably stumble toward the idea that they are better together. Ensemble players – featuring a group of comedic actors – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually is reminiscent of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is obviously artificial – think obvious snow effects clinging to verdant foliage as a warm climate substitutes for a cold December city.
The Dog's Domain
How these familiar elements come together into something enjoyable hinges on the strength of the performances and an acceptance of comfort viewing. Regarding the second aspect, Merv knows its audience – individuals who browse regularly for dog videos. It provides a plethora of adorable dog montages. The primary selling point is the dog, and though it results in some clunky cuts between the pet's "lines" and human reaction, the movie succeeds in showing dog beach fun, pet moping, and, ultimately, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Two-Legged Cast
The same praise does not extend for the human side of the story. The tone vacillates between serious study, broad humor, standard rom-com beats, and physical comedy, failing to master a consistent feel. No blame falls on Charlie Cox, who is willing to embrace the silliness and cringe inherent in the unusual premise. He brings a endearing lack of ego that provides much of the film's charm for this on-the-rocks couple. Her co-star Deschanel, true to her usual style, injects a certain millennial quirkiness that will click for some but not others. Her portrayal can feel a little too aloof, particularly when contrasted against Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (It should be noted, the canine performer is convincing at acting depressed – he may not be Messi from that acclaimed drama, he's definitely a scene-stealer.)
The film attempts to add substance to the central romance for scenes without their pet – a bit of a pity, given that Merv is easily the cutest element of this cute-aiming movie. As one might predict, it just about gets by. The catalyst for the split would feel more adult and realistic with more screen time and less blunt explanation. In the end, Merv is light and sugary, meeting precisely what you anticipate. Creating a movie on this shared-custody premise has potential – even if it's not exactly a great one either.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video this December.
