This is a widely held belief for numerous people that sharing custody a canine companion post-separation is a terrible idea. Experts frequently claim such arrangements impede individuals from moving forward, cause practical headaches, fuel disputes, and prove frustrating across the board. Apparently, and in a twist fit for a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to the canine in question to become depressed.
While respecting the emotional well-being of animals – pet parents observe their profound sensitivity. To witness a standout portrayal in dog sorrow, one need only look another performance. I firmly believe that a dog of Merv's nature, a wired-hair terrier mix brought to life by a talented dog named Gus, would struggle adapting to split households. The idea of basing a full holiday film on such a setup holds water seems a questionable prospect.Standard Holiday Fare
Fairness demands noting, Merv, written by the writing duo and under the guidance of director Swale, makes no grand claims more profound than a light film. It functions as a holiday release from a streaming platform giant – the complexity remains surface-level. The plot is destined to be straightforward: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their post-breakup gloom is rivaled only by their dog's, embark on a therapeutic trip to a luxury pet hotel. There, inevitably, they will undoubtedly realize the idea that they should reunite. The supporting cast – featuring a group of comedic actors – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. The film's look carries the feel of a streaming service original, with a wintry atmosphere that is clearly manufactured – think obvious snow effects surrounding green trees as a warm climate stands in for a wintery Boston.
The Dog's Domain
Whether these predictable parts coalesce into something enjoyable rests upon the actors' work and the viewer's appetite for easy entertainment. Regarding the second aspect, Merv knows its audience – the kind who browse regularly for cute animal clips. It provides a series of canine-centric sequences. The primary selling point is Merv himself, and while this leads to some clunky cuts between what the dog does and human reaction, the movie delivers on walking sequences, pet moping, and, in the end, pure puppy happiness.
The Two-Legged Cast
Such effectiveness is not earned for the interpersonal drama. Its style shifts uneasily between relationship drama, zany antics, predictable love story, and outright slapstick, not quite landing a single genre. No blame falls on Cox's performance, who is admirably committed the humiliating and funny required by the bizarre setting. Cox exhibits a endearing lack of ego that offers much of the film's charm for this ostensibly perfect couple. Her co-star Deschanel, in her typical fashion, brings a distinctive offbeat energy that will click for some but not others. Her Anna seems a touch too detached, notably when paired with Cox's genuine sadness. (It should be noted, the canine performer is convincing at looking despondent – not quite the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he remains a scene-stealer.)
The story strives to add substance to Anna and Russ's relationship for scenes without their pet – which is unfortunate, since Merv is by far the cutest element of this cute-aiming movie. Expectedly, it achieves only baseline competence. The cause for the split would feel more grounded and mature with less exposition and more subtle storytelling. In the end, Merv is gentle and pleasant, meeting precisely what you anticipate. Creating a movie on this shared-custody premise is not terrible – but it's not exactly a great one either.
- Merv premieres on the Amazon platform on December 10th.
