This is an often-repeated piece of advice among many that sharing custody a dog after a breakup is ill-advised. Experts frequently claim such situations hinder individuals from moving forward, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and are a nuisance across the board. Apparently, and in a twist worthy of a streaming movie, it also makes our furry friends to feel down.
While respecting the mental health of our pets – many owners observe their profound sensitivity. If you need masterclass in dog sorrow, consider another performance. I firmly believe that a dog such as Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix portrayed by the canine actor Gus, would have a hard time adjusting to divided living arrangements. Whether this premise an entire Christmas romance on such a setup holds water is debatable at best.Standard Holiday Fare
To its credit, Merv, the work of the writing duo and helmed by playwright Jessica Swale, never aspires to be more profound than what it is. We have here a Christmas movie from a streaming platform giant – the complexity is limited. The plot unfolds as uncomplicated: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their post-breakup gloom is surpassed by their dog's, embark on a uplifting getaway to a dog-friendly resort. At this location, predictably, they will surely rediscover the idea that they belong with each other. Side characters – including a group of comedic actors – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic is reminiscent of a branded content, with a Christmas setting that is obviously artificial – as seen in flurries clinging to verdant foliage as a summer location stands in for the Northeast.
The Canine Charisma
Whether these familiar elements coalesce into something enjoyable rests upon the execution and one's taste for cinematic comfort food. Regarding the second aspect, Merv targets a specific viewer – individuals who browse regularly for pet content. Audiences receive a plethora of adorable dog montages. The main attraction is the canine star, and even if it causes some stilted moments between animal action and people's faces, the movie does offer canine party antics, dog depression, and, ultimately, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Human Element
The same praise cannot be applied for the human side of the story. The tone wavers between serious study, wacky comedy, predictable love story, and physical comedy, failing to master any one mode. The fault lies not with Cox's performance, who is willing to embrace the humiliating and funny required by the dog resort scenario. 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, as is her trademark, injects a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna seems a bit too dry, particularly when paired with Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (It should be noted, the canine performer manages acting depressed – while no a canine thespian of that caliber, he is still a scene-stealer.)
The story strives to give weight to Anna and Russ's relationship for moments when the dog is absent – a bit of a pity, since the dog is by far the best part of this cute-aiming movie. Expectedly, it achieves only baseline competence. The catalyst for their original breakup might seem more adult and realistic with less exposition and less blunt explanation. Ultimately, Merv is slight and sweet, fulfilling every expected note. Making a film on this shared-custody premise is not terrible – even if it's hardly a stroke of genius.
- Merv streams on the Amazon platform this December.
