It is a widely held belief in certain circles that sharing custody a pet following a split is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such arrangements hinder ex-partners from moving forward, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and become annoying for everyone involved. Apparently, and in a twist suited to a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to our furry friends to become depressed.
While respecting the emotional well-being of dogs – countless people speak of their profound sensitivity. If you need prime example in canine melancholy, consider a past film. It seems certain that a dog such as Merv, a scruffy terrier type played by the canine actor Gus, would struggle coping with divided living arrangements. If this concept an entire Christmas romance on this conflict holds water is debatable at best.Predictable Foundations
Fairness demands noting, Merv, the work of its screenwriters and helmed by Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be more profound than what it is. This is a holiday release from a streaming platform giant – the complexity are modest. Its storyline unfolds as simple and direct: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their post-breakup gloom is rivaled only by their dog's, embark on a therapeutic trip to a dog-friendly resort. There, inevitably, they will presumably rediscover the idea that they should reunite. The supporting cast – including Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic is reminiscent of a branded content, with a wintry atmosphere that is obviously artificial – think obvious snow effects clinging to green trees as North Carolina stands in for a cold December city.
The Dog's Domain
How these predictable parts coalesce into an entertaining watch hinges on the execution and an acceptance of easy entertainment. On the latter point, Merv knows its audience – the kind who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. The film delivers a wealth of canine-centric sequences. The central draw is Merv himself, and even if it causes some stilted moments between animal action and the actors' responses, the movie succeeds in showing dog beach fun, canine sorrow, and, in the end, doggie joy.
The Two-Legged Cast
The same praise cannot be applied for the interpersonal drama. The tone vacillates between serious study, wacky comedy, predictable love story, and silly gags, failing to master any one mode. No blame falls on the actor playing Russ, who is willing to embrace the humiliating and funny inherent in the unusual premise. Cox exhibits a endearing lack of ego that offers a significant portion of the appeal for this ostensibly perfect couple. Anna's portrayer, as is her trademark, brings a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna comes across as a touch too detached, particularly when contrasted against Cox's vulnerable performance. (It should be noted, the canine performer is convincing at flopping and whining – not quite Messi from that acclaimed drama, he remains an excellent dog.)
The story strives to give weight to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – a bit of a pity, given that Merv is easily the cutest element of this cute-aiming movie. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The catalyst for their original breakup could have been more adult and realistic with more screen time and fewer direct statements. Ultimately, Merv is light and sugary, hitting every expected note. Making a film with this canine conflict isn't a bad idea – even if it's hardly a great one either.
- Merv streams on Prime Video on December 10th.
