This is a common warning among many that sharing custody a pet after a breakup is a terrible idea. Most will argue such setups hinder individuals from healing, create logistical nightmares, lead to tension, and become annoying for everyone involved. As it turns out, and in a twist fit for a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to the dogs themselves to feel down.
Without minimizing the emotional well-being of our pets – countless people observe their remarkable empathy. If you need prime example in dog sorrow, simply recall a past film. It seems certain that a dog of Merv's nature, a scruffy terrier type brought to life by the canine actor Gus, would struggle adapting to life in two homes. The idea of basing an entire Christmas romance around this situation is sustainable remains rather doubtful.Standard Holiday Fare
Honestly, Merv, the work of the writing duo and helmed by playwright Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be more profound than its premise. It functions as a seasonal offering from a streaming platform giant – the complexity remains surface-level. Its storyline unfolds as straightforward: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their individual funk is surpassed by their dog's, embark on a cheer-up vacation to a canine-centric retreat. There, inevitably, they will undoubtedly rediscover the idea that they should reunite. Ensemble players – featuring a group of comedic actors – are crafted as the usual assortment of types. Its aesthetic has the quality of a streaming service original, with a Christmas setting that is obviously artificial – think obvious snow effects piled on green trees as a warm climate substitutes for the Northeast.
Where the Film Shines
How these standard ingredients coalesce into an entertaining watch rests upon the execution and an acceptance of easy entertainment. Regarding the second aspect, Merv knows its audience – those people who browse regularly for dog videos. The film delivers a wealth of scenes focused on the pet. The main attraction is the canine star, and while this leads to some stilted moments between what the dog does and people's faces, the movie delivers on dog beach fun, canine sorrow, and, ultimately, pure puppy happiness.
The Human Element
This level of success is not earned for the interpersonal drama. The film's approach shifts uneasily between relationship drama, broad humor, predictable love story, and outright slapstick, not quite landing a consistent feel. No blame falls on Charlie Cox, who is admirably committed the absurd and awkward inherent in the bizarre setting. He brings a likable self-deprecation that provides much of the film's charm for this ostensibly perfect couple. Anna's portrayer, in her typical fashion, imparts a distinctive offbeat energy that will click for some but not others. Her portrayal seems a bit too dry, notably when paired with Cox's vulnerable performance. (On another note, the canine performer is convincing at acting depressed – he may not be Messi from that acclaimed drama, he is still a very good boy.)
The story strives to provide depth to the couple's history for moments when the dog is absent – which is unfortunate, since the dog is easily the best part of this cute-aiming movie. As one might predict, it just about gets by. The cause for the split would feel more nuanced with greater exploration and fewer direct statements. Ultimately, Merv is light and sugary, fulfilling all its marks. Crafting a story with this canine conflict isn't a bad idea – though I wouldn't call it a stroke of genius.
- Merv becomes available on the Amazon platform this December.
