It is a common warning among many that sharing custody a canine companion after a breakup is ill-advised. Experts frequently claim such setups prevent former couples from finding closure, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and are a nuisance for everyone involved. Seemingly, and in a twist suited to a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to the canine in question to experience sadness.
Without minimizing the inner life of our pets – pet parents observe their remarkable empathy. To witness a standout portrayal in pet despair, simply recall a past film. I firmly believe that a dog like Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix played by a talented dog named Gus, would struggle coping with divided living arrangements. If this concept a full holiday film on such a setup is sustainable is rather doubtful.Predictable Foundations
To its credit, Merv, the work of the writing duo and directed by playwright Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims more profound than what it is. This is a seasonal offering from a corporate studio – the ambitions is limited. Its storyline is destined to be straightforward: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their own sadness is surpassed by their dog's, take a therapeutic trip to a luxury pet hotel. Once there, as expected, they will presumably stumble toward the idea that they belong with each other. The supporting cast – featuring Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – are crafted as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. The film's look has the quality of a branded content, with a Christmas setting that is obviously artificial – think fake snow piled on green trees as a warm climate doubles as a cold December city.
The Dog's Domain
How these predictable parts merge into an entertaining watch depends on the strength of the performances and an acceptance of comfort viewing. Regarding the second aspect, Merv targets a specific viewer – individuals who seek out for dog videos. It provides a plethora of adorable dog montages. The main attraction is the canine star, and though it results in some awkward editing between the pet's "lines" and people's faces, the movie delivers on dog beach fun, canine sorrow, and, in the end, doggie joy.
The Two-Legged Cast
The same praise does not extend for the interpersonal drama. Its style vacillates between serious study, wacky comedy, predictable love story, and physical comedy, failing to master any one mode. No blame falls on the actor playing Russ, who is willing to embrace the humiliating and funny inherent in the dog resort scenario. He brings a charming humility that provides much of the film's charm for this on-the-rocks couple. Zooey Deschanel, as is her trademark, injects a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal can feel a touch too detached, notably when alongside Cox's genuine sadness. (On another note, the canine performer succeeds in flopping and whining – while no a canine thespian of that caliber, he's definitely a very good boy.)
The story strives to provide depth to Anna and Russ's relationship for sequences focusing solely on them – a bit of a pity, considering the dog is by far the most adorable aspect of this feel-good picture. As one might predict, it achieves only baseline competence. The cause for the split might seem more grounded and mature with more screen time and fewer direct statements. In the end, Merv is light and sugary, meeting all its marks. Creating a movie about dog co-parenting is not terrible – even if I wouldn't call it a stroke of genius.
- Merv streams on the Amazon platform starting December 10.
