This is a common warning in certain circles that co-parenting a canine companion post-separation is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such situations hinder individuals from healing, cause practical headaches, fuel disputes, and prove frustrating across the board. Apparently, in a revelation worthy of a streaming movie, it can even cause the canine in question to experience sadness.
While respecting the emotional well-being of animals – pet parents speak of their deep emotional capacity. If you need prime example in canine melancholy, consider a past film. It seems certain that a dog of Merv's nature, a spirited little dog played by a talented dog named Gus, would have a hard time adapting to divided living arrangements. Whether this premise a full holiday film around this situation works effectively remains debatable at best.Standard Holiday Fare
To its credit, Merv, the work of its screenwriters and under the guidance of playwright Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims more profound than what it is. It functions as a holiday release from a streaming platform giant – the ambitions remains surface-level. Its storyline proves to be simple and direct: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their individual funk is matched by their dog's, embark on a uplifting getaway to a dog-friendly resort. At this location, predictably, they will undoubtedly rediscover the idea that they belong with each other. The supporting cast – including familiar faces – are crafted as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Visually is reminiscent of a streaming service original, with a holiday backdrop that is visibly contrived – think fake snow clinging to verdant foliage as North Carolina stands in for a wintery Boston.
Where the Film Shines
Whether these standard ingredients merge into something enjoyable rests upon the actors' work and an acceptance of easy entertainment. Regarding the second aspect, Merv hones in on a demographic – those people who browse regularly for cute animal clips. The film delivers a wealth of canine-centric sequences. The central draw is the canine star, and even if it causes some clunky cuts between animal action and the actors' responses, the movie succeeds in showing dog beach fun, dog depression, and, finally, pure puppy happiness.
Where It Wobbles
Such effectiveness is not earned for the interpersonal drama. Its style vacillates between emotional depth, zany antics, formulaic romance, and outright slapstick, never fully committing to any one mode. This is not Charlie Cox, who is fully game the absurd and awkward inherent in the bizarre setting. Cox exhibits a likable self-deprecation that provides a significant portion of the appeal for this ostensibly perfect couple. Zooey Deschanel, as is her trademark, imparts a particular brand of eccentricity that will click for some but not others. The character can feel a touch too detached, particularly when alongside Cox's genuine sadness. (For what it's worth, the canine performer succeeds in looking despondent – while no Messi from that acclaimed drama, he is still a very good boy.)
The story strives to provide depth to the couple's history for scenes without their pet – a bit of a pity, given that the dog is easily the best part of this film designed for charm. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The reason for their original breakup would feel more grounded and mature with more screen time and more subtle storytelling. In the end, Merv is light and sugary, meeting precisely what you anticipate. Making a film with this canine conflict is not terrible – even if I wouldn't call it a great one either.
- Merv premieres on Amazon Prime Video starting December 10.
