This is an often-repeated piece of advice in certain circles that jointly caring for a pet post-separation is ill-advised. Most will argue such setups hinder ex-partners from healing, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and prove frustrating for everyone involved. Apparently, in a revelation fit for a streaming movie, it can even cause the dogs themselves to become depressed.
Not to downplay the inner life of dogs – many owners speak of their deep emotional capacity. To witness a masterclass in pet despair, consider another performance. It seems certain that a dog like Merv, a scruffy terrier type brought to life by the canine actor Gus, would find it difficult coping with split households. If this concept a full holiday film around this situation works effectively remains a questionable prospect.Predictable Foundations
Fairness demands noting, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and directed by director Swale, never aspires to be anything more than its premise. It functions as a seasonal offering from a streaming platform giant – the depth are modest. The narrative is destined to be uncomplicated: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their own sadness is rivaled only by their dog's, embark on a uplifting getaway to a luxury pet hotel. At this location, predictably, they will undoubtedly stumble toward the idea that they belong with each other. Side characters – including familiar faces – serve as the usual assortment of types. The film's look carries the feel of a streaming service original, with a holiday backdrop that is clearly manufactured – exemplified by flurries piled on green trees as a summer location stands in for a cold December city.
Where the Film Shines
If these familiar elements come together into an entertaining watch hinges on the actors' work and the viewer's appetite for cinematic comfort food. Regarding the second aspect, Merv targets a specific viewer – individuals who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. The film delivers a series of adorable dog montages. The central draw is the canine star, and while this leads to some awkward editing between what the dog does and people's faces, the movie succeeds in showing canine party antics, canine sorrow, and, ultimately, pure puppy happiness.
Where It Wobbles
Such effectiveness cannot be applied for the interpersonal drama. The film's approach wavers between serious study, wacky comedy, predictable love story, and outright slapstick, failing to master a single genre. This is not the actor playing Russ, who is willing to embrace the silliness and cringe demanded of the bizarre setting. His performance contains a likable self-deprecation that provides much of the film's charm for this ostensibly perfect 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 heartfelt sincerity. (For what it's worth, Gus the Dog manages looking despondent – while no a canine thespian of that caliber, he is still a very good boy.)
Merv tries to give weight to the central romance for scenes without their pet – which is unfortunate, considering Merv is undoubtedly the cutest element of this cute-aiming movie. Unsurprisingly, it meets the bare minimum. The catalyst for the split would feel more adult and realistic with less exposition and more subtle storytelling. As it stands, Merv is slight and sweet, meeting precisely what you anticipate. Making a film on this shared-custody premise isn't a bad idea – though it's not exactly a great one either.
- Merv premieres on Amazon Prime Video this December.
