This is a widely held belief in certain circles that co-parenting a pet post-separation is ill-advised. Most will argue such situations prevent individuals from finding closure, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and are a nuisance for all parties. Seemingly, and in a twist worthy of a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to the canine in question to feel down.
While respecting the inner life of animals – countless people observe their remarkable empathy. For a masterclass in canine melancholy, one need only look another performance. There is little doubt that a dog such as Merv, a scruffy terrier type played by the canine actor Gus, would have a hard time coping with divided living arrangements. The idea of basing a full holiday film around this situation works effectively remains debatable at best.A Familiar Formula
Honestly, Merv, crafted by the writing duo and under the guidance of Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims anything more than what it is. This is a holiday release from a streaming platform giant – the complexity are modest. Its storyline proves to be uncomplicated: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their own sadness is rivaled only by their dog's, decide on a uplifting getaway to a dog-friendly resort. At this location, predictably, they will presumably realize the idea that they are better together. Ensemble players – including a group of comedic actors – serve as the usual assortment of types. Visually has the quality of a platform's in-house production, with a wintry atmosphere that is visibly contrived – think obvious snow effects surrounding verdant foliage as a warm climate stands in for a wintery Boston.
The Dog's Domain
How these standard ingredients coalesce into a pleasant experience rests upon the execution and the viewer's appetite for cinematic comfort food. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who seek out for dog videos. Audiences receive a plethora of canine-centric sequences. The main attraction is the canine star, and though it results in some clunky cuts between the pet's "lines" and people's faces, the movie does offer canine party antics, canine sorrow, and, finally, a tail-wagging resolution.
Where It Wobbles
This level of success is not earned for the human side of the story. Its style wavers between relationship drama, zany antics, standard rom-com beats, and outright slapstick, not quite landing any one mode. The fault lies not with Cox's performance, who is fully game the humiliating and funny demanded of the bizarre setting. His performance contains a likable self-deprecation that offers a significant portion of the appeal for this ostensibly perfect couple. Zooey Deschanel, in her typical fashion, injects a particular brand of eccentricity that will either resonate with viewers. Her portrayal comes across as a bit too dry, notably when paired with Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (On another note, the canine performer manages 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 give weight to the central romance for moments when the dog is absent – a bit of a pity, since the dog is by far the cutest element of this cute-aiming movie. Expectedly, it achieves only baseline competence. The cause for their separation would feel more nuanced with less exposition and fewer direct statements. Ultimately, Merv is light and sugary, meeting all its marks. Crafting a story on this shared-custody premise has potential – even if I wouldn't call it a brilliant concept.
- Merv streams on the Amazon platform this December.
