This is a widely held belief in certain circles that sharing custody a pet following a split is ill-advised. Experts frequently claim such setups hinder individuals from moving forward, lead to scheduling chaos, spark arguments, and become annoying for everyone involved. Apparently, as a development fit for a streaming movie, it also makes the dogs themselves to become depressed.
While respecting the inner life of dogs – countless people observe their remarkable empathy. To witness a prime example in canine melancholy, consider recent cinema. It seems certain that a dog like Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix played by a talented dog named Gus, would struggle adapting to divided living arrangements. The idea of basing an entire Christmas romance on such a setup holds water remains a questionable prospect.Predictable Foundations
To its credit, Merv, the work of Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and helmed by Jessica Swale, never aspires to be deeper than a light film. This is a Christmas movie from a streaming platform giant – the complexity is limited. The plot is destined to be straightforward: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their post-breakup gloom is matched by their dog's, take a uplifting getaway to a luxury pet hotel. Once there, as expected, they will surely rediscover the idea that they are better together. The supporting cast – featuring a group of comedic actors – fulfill roles eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. The film's look has the quality of a streaming service original, with a holiday backdrop that is obviously artificial – exemplified by obvious snow effects piled on green trees as a summer location substitutes for a wintery Boston.
The Canine Charisma
If these predictable parts merge into something enjoyable depends on the execution and the viewer's appetite for comfort viewing. For the comfort factor, Merv hones in on a demographic – the kind who browse regularly for dog videos. The film delivers a plethora of scenes focused on the pet. The central draw is Merv himself, and though it results in some clunky cuts between the pet's "lines" and people's faces, the movie succeeds in showing dog beach fun, dog depression, and, ultimately, a tail-wagging resolution.
Where It Wobbles
This level of success does not extend for the human side of the story. The film's approach shifts uneasily between relationship drama, zany antics, predictable love story, and outright slapstick, not quite landing a consistent feel. The fault lies not with Cox's performance, who is willing to embrace the absurd and awkward required by the unusual premise. His performance contains a endearing lack of ego that provides a significant portion of the appeal for this on-the-rocks couple. Her co-star Deschanel, as is her trademark, brings a distinctive offbeat energy that will either resonate with viewers. Her portrayal comes across as a little too aloof, particularly when alongside Cox's vulnerable performance. (It should be noted, Gus the Dog succeeds in flopping and whining – he may not be Messi from that acclaimed drama, he is still an excellent dog.)
Merv tries to provide depth to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – a bit of a pity, since the dog is undoubtedly the cutest element of this feel-good picture. As one might predict, it just about gets by. The cause for their separation could have been more adult and realistic with more screen time and fewer direct statements. Ultimately, Merv is gentle and pleasant, meeting precisely what you anticipate. Making a film about dog co-parenting is not terrible – even if it's hardly a brilliant concept.
- Merv premieres on Prime Video on December 10th.
