This is a common warning for numerous people that co-parenting a pet following a split is a terrible idea. Experts frequently claim such arrangements impede individuals from finding closure, lead to scheduling chaos, spark arguments, and become annoying for everyone involved. Apparently, as a development fit for a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to the canine in question to experience sadness.
While respecting the emotional well-being of our pets – pet parents attest to their deep emotional capacity. To witness a prime example in canine melancholy, consider recent cinema. It seems certain that a dog like Merv, a scruffy terrier type brought to life by a talented dog named Gus, would have a hard time adapting to divided living arrangements. If this concept an entire Christmas romance on this conflict holds water seems debatable at best.Predictable Foundations
Honestly, Merv, the work of the writing duo and directed by director Swale, doesn't pretend to be anything more than a light film. We have here a holiday release from a streaming platform giant – the ambitions is limited. The plot unfolds as simple and direct: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their individual funk is rivaled only by their dog's, take a uplifting getaway to a canine-centric retreat. At this location, predictably, they will undoubtedly stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. The supporting cast – played by familiar faces – serve as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Its aesthetic carries the feel of a platform's in-house production, with a wintry atmosphere that is visibly contrived – exemplified by fake snow surrounding lush pines as a summer location doubles as the Northeast.
The Canine Charisma
How these standard ingredients coalesce into an entertaining watch depends on the strength of the performances and the viewer's appetite for easy entertainment. On the latter point, Merv knows its audience – those people who browse regularly for dog videos. The film delivers a plethora of canine-centric sequences. The main attraction is the dog, and even if it causes some clunky cuts between the pet's "lines" and the actors' responses, the movie does offer canine party antics, pet moping, and, finally, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Human Element
This level of success cannot be applied for the romantic plot. The film's approach vacillates between emotional depth, broad humor, formulaic romance, and outright slapstick, not quite landing a single genre. This is not Cox's performance, who is fully game the silliness and cringe inherent in the bizarre setting. Cox exhibits a likable self-deprecation that provides the bulk of the chemistry for this on-the-rocks couple. Her co-star Deschanel, true to her usual style, imparts a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. The character can feel a touch too detached, especially when alongside Cox's genuine sadness. (For what it's worth, Merv himself is convincing at flopping and whining – not quite the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he's definitely a very good boy.)
The story strives to add substance to the couple's history for moments when the dog is absent – a bit of a pity, since the title character is easily the best part of this film designed for charm. Unsurprisingly, it just about gets by. The catalyst for their original breakup might seem more adult and realistic with greater exploration and less blunt explanation. In the end, Merv is light and sugary, meeting all its marks. Crafting a story about dog co-parenting is not terrible – though it's hardly a brilliant concept.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video this December.
