This is a widely held belief for numerous people that jointly caring for a canine companion post-separation is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such setups hinder individuals from finding closure, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and are a nuisance across the board. As it turns out, 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 – countless people attest to their remarkable empathy. To witness a masterclass in canine melancholy, consider recent cinema. There is little doubt that a dog like Merv, a scruffy terrier type portrayed by Gus the Dog, would struggle adapting to divided living arrangements. The idea of basing a full holiday film around this situation holds water remains a questionable prospect.A Familiar Formula
Honestly, Merv, crafted by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and directed by director Swale, doesn't pretend to be anything more than a light film. It functions as a holiday release from a corporate studio – the complexity remains surface-level. The narrative unfolds as simple and direct: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their individual funk is rivaled only by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a canine-centric retreat. There, inevitably, they will presumably rediscover the idea that they should reunite. Side characters – played by Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – are crafted as the usual assortment of types. Visually carries the feel of a branded content, with a Christmas setting that is visibly contrived – exemplified by obvious snow effects clinging to green trees as a summer location doubles as a wintery Boston.
The Canine Charisma
Whether these predictable parts come together into something enjoyable hinges on the execution and the viewer's appetite for cinematic comfort food. Regarding the second aspect, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who scroll endlessly for dog videos. The film delivers a plethora of scenes focused on the pet. The primary selling point is Merv himself, and even if it causes some clunky cuts between the pet's "lines" and people's faces, the movie succeeds in showing walking sequences, dog depression, and, finally, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Two-Legged Cast
Such effectiveness does not extend for the human side of the story. The tone wavers between relationship drama, wacky comedy, predictable love story, and silly gags, not quite landing a consistent feel. No blame falls on Charlie Cox, who is fully game the absurd and awkward inherent in the unusual premise. His performance contains a likable self-deprecation that supplies a significant portion of the appeal for this on-the-rocks couple. Zooey Deschanel, as is her trademark, injects a certain millennial quirkiness that will either resonate with viewers. Her portrayal seems a bit too dry, notably when paired with Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (It should be noted, Merv himself manages flopping and whining – he may not be Messi from that acclaimed drama, he's definitely an excellent dog.)
The story strives to provide depth to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – a regrettable choice, considering the dog is by far the best part of this cute-aiming movie. As one might predict, it achieves only baseline competence. The reason for their original breakup could have been more grounded and mature with less exposition and less blunt explanation. In the end, Merv is gentle and pleasant, hitting every expected note. Creating a movie with this canine conflict has potential – though I wouldn't call it a great one either.
- Merv premieres on Prime Video starting December 10.
