This is a widely held belief in certain circles that sharing custody a pet post-separation is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such situations hinder individuals from moving forward, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and prove frustrating for all parties. As it turns out, as a development suited to a streaming movie, it also makes the canine in question to become depressed.
While respecting the emotional well-being of animals – many owners speak of their remarkable empathy. To witness a standout portrayal in canine melancholy, one need only look a past film. There is little doubt that a dog of Merv's nature, a wired-hair terrier mix portrayed by a talented dog named Gus, would struggle adjusting to split households. The idea of basing a full holiday film around this situation holds water seems a questionable prospect.A Familiar Formula
Fairness demands noting, Merv, written by its screenwriters and directed by director Swale, never aspires to be deeper than a light film. This is a holiday release from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the depth are modest. Its storyline proves to be uncomplicated: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their post-breakup gloom is rivaled only by their dog's, take a uplifting getaway to a luxury pet hotel. At this location, predictably, they will surely rediscover the idea that they belong with each other. Side characters – including familiar faces – fulfill roles quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually has the quality of a branded content, with a Christmas setting that is clearly manufactured – as seen in fake snow surrounding verdant foliage as a warm climate stands in for the Northeast.
The Canine Charisma
Whether these familiar elements come together into an entertaining watch hinges on the execution and an acceptance of cinematic comfort food. For the comfort factor, Merv knows its audience – the kind who scroll endlessly for dog videos. It provides a plethora of canine-centric sequences. The main attraction is the dog, and though it results in some awkward editing between animal action and people's faces, the movie succeeds in showing canine party antics, canine sorrow, and, finally, doggie joy.
The Two-Legged Cast
This level of success is not earned for the interpersonal drama. Its style vacillates between serious study, wacky comedy, predictable love story, and outright slapstick, never fully committing to any one mode. This is not Cox's performance, who is fully game the absurd and awkward required by the unusual premise. His performance contains a likable self-deprecation that provides the bulk of the chemistry for this seemingly ideal couple. Her co-star Deschanel, true to her usual style, injects a distinctive offbeat energy that will either resonate with viewers. Her portrayal seems a bit too dry, notably when paired with Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (For what it's worth, Gus the Dog succeeds in acting depressed – while no a canine thespian of that caliber, he remains a scene-stealer.)
The film attempts to add substance to Anna and Russ's relationship for moments when the dog is absent – a regrettable choice, given that Merv is by far the best part of this feel-good picture. As one might predict, it achieves only baseline competence. The catalyst for their separation would feel more adult and realistic with more screen time and less blunt explanation. Ultimately, Merv is light and sugary, meeting all its marks. Making a film about dog co-parenting has potential – but it's hardly a great one either.
- Merv premieres on the Amazon platform on December 10th.
