This is a widely held belief in certain circles that sharing custody a canine companion after a breakup is a terrible idea. The consensus suggests such situations hinder ex-partners from healing, cause practical headaches, fuel disputes, and prove frustrating for all parties. As it turns out, in a revelation fit for a streaming movie, it can even cause the dogs themselves to become depressed.
Without minimizing the mental health of animals – many owners observe their remarkable empathy. For a standout portrayal in canine melancholy, simply recall recent cinema. It seems certain that a dog like Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix portrayed by Gus the Dog, would struggle coping with split households. If this concept an entire Christmas romance around this situation works effectively remains debatable at best.Predictable Foundations
Fairness demands noting, Merv, written by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and directed by director Swale, doesn't pretend to be more profound than a light film. We have here a seasonal offering from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the ambitions remains surface-level. The narrative is destined to be straightforward: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their post-breakup gloom is rivaled only by their dog's, decide on a therapeutic trip to a dog-friendly resort. At this location, predictably, they will presumably rediscover the idea that they are better together. The supporting cast – played by familiar faces – fulfill roles quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. The film's look carries the feel of a streaming service original, with a holiday backdrop that is visibly contrived – think flurries clinging to verdant foliage as a summer location doubles as the Northeast.
The Canine Charisma
How these predictable parts coalesce into something enjoyable depends on the strength of the performances and the viewer's appetite for easy entertainment. For the comfort factor, Merv knows its audience – the kind who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. Audiences receive a series of canine-centric sequences. The main attraction is the canine star, and even if it causes some awkward editing between the pet's "lines" and human reaction, the movie succeeds in showing dog beach fun, canine sorrow, and, finally, pure puppy happiness.
The Human Element
This level of success does not extend for the romantic plot. Its style wavers between emotional depth, zany antics, formulaic romance, and outright slapstick, never fully committing to a consistent feel. This is not Charlie Cox, who is fully game the humiliating and funny required by the unusual premise. His performance contains a endearing lack of ego that supplies much of the film's charm for this on-the-rocks couple. Her co-star Deschanel, in her typical fashion, brings a certain millennial quirkiness that will click for some but not others. The character comes across as a little too aloof, particularly when alongside Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (For what it's worth, the canine performer is convincing at looking despondent – he may not be the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he remains a very good boy.)
Merv tries to give weight to the central romance for scenes without their pet – a bit of a pity, considering the title character is undoubtedly the most adorable aspect of this cute-aiming movie. As one might predict, it just about gets by. The cause for their original breakup might seem more nuanced with less exposition and more subtle storytelling. Ultimately, Merv is light and sugary, hitting precisely what you anticipate. Crafting a story on this shared-custody premise is not terrible – though it's not exactly a stroke of genius.
- Merv premieres on Amazon Prime Video starting December 10.
