This is a widely held belief for numerous people that sharing custody a canine companion after a breakup is a recipe for trouble. Most will argue such situations hinder ex-partners from finding closure, lead to scheduling chaos, spark arguments, and prove frustrating for everyone involved. As it turns out, and in a twist worthy of a streaming movie, it also makes the canine in question to experience sadness.
Without minimizing the emotional well-being of our pets – pet parents observe their profound sensitivity. If you need prime example in canine melancholy, simply recall another performance. There is little doubt that a dog of Merv's nature, a scruffy terrier type portrayed by a talented dog named Gus, would have a hard time adapting to divided living arrangements. If this concept a full holiday film on such a setup works effectively is debatable at best.Predictable Foundations
Honestly, Merv, written by its screenwriters and under the guidance of director Swale, never aspires to be anything more than a light film. This is a seasonal offering from a streaming platform giant – the ambitions is limited. The narrative proves to be uncomplicated: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their own sadness is surpassed by their dog's, embark on a uplifting getaway to a luxury pet hotel. Once there, as expected, they will surely rediscover the idea that they belong with each other. Side characters – featuring a group of comedic actors – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. The film's look is reminiscent of a platform's in-house production, with a Christmas setting that is visibly contrived – exemplified by fake snow surrounding green trees as North Carolina doubles as a wintery Boston.
Where the Film Shines
How these predictable parts come together into something enjoyable rests upon the execution and the viewer's appetite for easy entertainment. For the comfort factor, Merv hones in on a demographic – individuals who browse regularly for dog videos. Audiences receive a wealth of scenes focused on the pet. The central draw is the dog, and while this leads to some stilted moments between the pet's "lines" and human reaction, the movie succeeds in showing walking sequences, pet moping, and, ultimately, doggie joy.
The Two-Legged Cast
Such effectiveness cannot be applied for the interpersonal drama. Its style shifts uneasily between serious study, zany antics, predictable love story, and physical comedy, failing to master a single genre. The fault lies not with the actor playing Russ, who is willing to embrace the absurd and awkward inherent in the bizarre setting. He brings a endearing lack of ego that supplies a significant portion of the appeal for this on-the-rocks couple. Zooey Deschanel, as is her trademark, brings a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna can feel a bit too dry, particularly when contrasted against Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (For what it's worth, Merv himself is convincing at flopping and whining – he may not be the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he is still an excellent dog.)
The film attempts to add substance to the central romance for moments when the dog is absent – which is unfortunate, considering the dog is undoubtedly the cutest element of this feel-good picture. Expectedly, it meets the bare minimum. The cause for the split would feel more adult and realistic with more screen time and fewer direct statements. In the end, Merv is slight and sweet, fulfilling all its marks. Crafting a story about dog co-parenting isn't a bad idea – even if I wouldn't call it a brilliant concept.
- Merv streams on the Amazon platform on December 10th.
