Caramelo (2025) 🐶🍲
If Merv left you cold, Caramelo is the perfect antidote. I absolutely adored this Brazilian gem. It follows Pedro (Rafael Vitti), a talented young chef in São Paulo whose dreams are sidelined by a serious cancer diagnosis.

Unlike the "uptight" vibes in other films, the connection here between Pedro and his rescue dog, Caramelo, is pure soul. The dog isn’t just a background character; he "senses" Pedro's illness before the doctors do and becomes his anchor through treatment. It manages to be a total tear-jerker while remaining hopeful and vibrant rather than gloomy.

It captures that "who rescued who?" sentiment perfectly. The cinematography of the food and the city is gorgeous, but the real star is the dog, Amendoim, who gives one of the most expressive canine performances I've ever seen.

Warning: Keep tissues nearby for the third act! 😭❤️

Rating: 5/5 🐾

#Caramelo #Netflix #DogMovies

Merv (2025) 🐶💔
Just finished this Prime Video "rom-com" and honestly? It’s a bizarre, joyless slog. The premise—exes taking their "depressed" dog on a Florida vacation—sounds cute, but the execution is incredibly awkward.

Zooey Deschanel plays Anna as so cold and "uptight" that it’s impossible to root for her. There is zero romantic chemistry with Charlie Cox; they have the vibe of two strangers forced to share an Uber rather than a former couple. The script tries to make her pragmatism the "villain" of the story, but it just makes every scene feel uncomfortable and imbalanced.

For a movie about a dog, it’s surprisingly gloomy. Instead of a fun holiday romp, you get 90 minutes of "grey" energy and wooden dialogue. If you’re looking for a feel-good dog movie, skip this one and just go play fetch with a real dog. This one is strictly for those who enjoy watching two people who clearly dislike each other argue in a resort.

Rating: 1.5/5 🦴

#Merv #MovieReview #PrimeVideo #FilmFedi #DogMovies