It is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that sharing custody a dog after a breakup is a recipe for trouble. The consensus suggests such arrangements prevent former couples from moving forward, lead to scheduling chaos, spark arguments, and prove frustrating for everyone involved. Seemingly, as a development worthy of a streaming movie, it also makes the dogs themselves to become depressed.
While respecting the inner life of animals – countless people attest to their remarkable empathy. To witness a prime example in dog sorrow, consider another performance. It seems certain that a dog of Merv's nature, a spirited little dog played by a talented dog named Gus, would struggle adjusting to life in two homes. Whether this premise an entire Christmas romance on such a setup holds water is rather doubtful.Standard Holiday Fare
Fairness demands noting, Merv, the work of Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and directed by director Swale, doesn't pretend to be more profound than a light film. This is a holiday release from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the complexity are modest. Its storyline proves to be simple and direct: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their post-breakup gloom is surpassed by their dog's, decide on a therapeutic trip to a canine-centric retreat. At this location, predictably, they will presumably realize the idea that they should reunite. Side characters – including Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic has the quality of a branded content, with a wintry atmosphere that is clearly manufactured – think fake snow piled on lush pines as a summer location doubles as a cold December city.
Where the Film Shines
Whether these predictable parts come together into an entertaining watch rests upon the strength of the performances and one's taste for easy entertainment. On the latter point, Merv knows its audience – those people who browse regularly for pet content. Audiences receive a plethora of adorable dog montages. The central draw is Merv himself, and though it results in some awkward editing between what the dog does and human reaction, the movie does offer dog beach fun, pet moping, and, in the end, pure puppy happiness.
The Human Element
The same praise is not earned for the romantic plot. The tone shifts uneasily between serious study, broad humor, formulaic romance, and physical comedy, never fully committing to a consistent feel. The fault lies not with the actor playing Russ, who is willing to embrace the humiliating and funny demanded of the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a charming humility that supplies the bulk of the chemistry for this on-the-rocks couple. Her co-star Deschanel, true to her usual style, imparts a particular brand of eccentricity that will click for some but not others. Her Anna comes across as a bit too dry, notably when alongside Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (For what it's worth, the canine performer manages acting depressed – while no a canine thespian of that caliber, he remains a scene-stealer.)
The film attempts to give weight to Anna and Russ's relationship for sequences focusing solely on them – a regrettable choice, since the dog is by far the best part of this cute-aiming movie. Unsurprisingly, it meets the bare minimum. The reason for the split could have been more nuanced with greater exploration and more subtle storytelling. In the end, Merv is gentle and pleasant, fulfilling precisely what you anticipate. Crafting a story about dog co-parenting is not terrible – but I wouldn't call it a stroke of genius.
- Merv premieres on Amazon Prime Video on December 10th.
