It is a widely held belief in certain circles that jointly caring for a dog after a breakup is a recipe for trouble. The consensus suggests such setups prevent individuals from finding closure, lead to scheduling chaos, spark arguments, and prove frustrating for everyone involved. As it turns out, as a development suited to a streaming movie, it can even cause the dogs themselves to feel down.
Without minimizing the emotional well-being of animals – countless people observe their deep emotional capacity. For a standout portrayal in pet despair, consider recent cinema. I firmly believe that a dog like Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix played by a talented dog named Gus, would have a hard time adapting to split households. The idea of basing an entire Christmas romance around this situation works effectively remains debatable at best.Standard Holiday Fare
Fairness demands noting, Merv, the work of the writing duo and under the guidance of director Swale, doesn't pretend to be more profound than its premise. This is a seasonal offering from a corporate studio – the ambitions are modest. The plot is destined to be straightforward: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their post-breakup gloom is surpassed by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a canine-centric retreat. Once there, as expected, they will presumably rediscover the idea that they should reunite. The supporting cast – including familiar faces – serve as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. The film's look has the quality of a branded content, with a wintry atmosphere that is clearly manufactured – exemplified by fake snow piled on verdant foliage as a warm climate doubles as a wintery Boston.
The Dog's Domain
How these familiar elements come together into a pleasant experience depends on the execution and the viewer's appetite for comfort viewing. Regarding the second aspect, Merv targets a specific viewer – individuals who seek out for pet content. Audiences receive a series of adorable dog montages. The main attraction is the canine star, and though it results in some stilted moments between the pet's "lines" and the actors' responses, the movie succeeds in showing dog beach fun, canine sorrow, and, in the end, pure puppy happiness.
The Two-Legged Cast
This level of success cannot be applied for the romantic plot. The film's approach shifts uneasily between serious study, wacky comedy, formulaic romance, and outright slapstick, not quite landing a single genre. The fault lies not with the actor playing Russ, who is willing to embrace the silliness and cringe inherent in the bizarre setting. His performance contains a charming humility that provides the bulk of the chemistry for this on-the-rocks couple. Anna's portrayer, as is her trademark, imparts a certain millennial quirkiness that will either resonate with viewers. Her Anna seems a touch too detached, notably when contrasted against Cox's genuine sadness. (On another note, the canine performer manages flopping and whining – while no the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he's definitely a scene-stealer.)
Merv tries to provide depth to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – which is unfortunate, since Merv is undoubtedly the best part of this film designed for charm. As one might predict, it meets the bare minimum. The reason for their separation might seem more adult and realistic with more screen time and less blunt explanation. In the end, Merv is slight and sweet, fulfilling precisely what you anticipate. Creating a movie about dog co-parenting isn't a bad idea – but it's hardly a brilliant concept.
- Merv premieres on Prime Video on December 10th.
