This is an often-repeated piece of advice in certain circles that jointly caring for a dog following a split is a terrible idea. Experts frequently claim such situations hinder former couples from healing, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and prove frustrating across the board. As it turns out, and in a twist worthy of a streaming movie, it also makes our furry friends to experience sadness.
While respecting the mental health of animals – pet parents observe their remarkable empathy. If you need masterclass in pet despair, simply recall recent cinema. I firmly believe that a dog such as Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix portrayed by Gus the Dog, would struggle coping with split households. Whether this premise a full holiday film on such a setup is sustainable remains debatable at best.Predictable Foundations
To its credit, Merv, crafted by the writing duo and helmed by playwright Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be anything more than a light film. It functions as a holiday release from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the ambitions remains surface-level. The plot is destined to be simple and direct: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their individual funk is rivaled only by their dog's, take a therapeutic trip to a dog-friendly resort. There, inevitably, they will undoubtedly realize the idea that they belong with each other. The supporting cast – featuring Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – fulfill roles quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. The film's look is reminiscent of a platform's in-house production, with a wintry atmosphere that is visibly contrived – think flurries clinging to green trees as a warm climate substitutes for the Northeast.
The Dog's Domain
If these predictable parts merge into an entertaining watch hinges on the actors' work and an acceptance of comfort viewing. Regarding the second aspect, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who scroll endlessly for dog videos. The film delivers a wealth of canine-centric sequences. The central draw is the canine star, and even if it causes some stilted moments between the pet's "lines" and human reaction, the movie delivers on dog beach fun, pet moping, and, finally, pure puppy happiness.
The Human Element
This level of success does not extend for the interpersonal drama. Its style wavers between serious study, zany antics, formulaic romance, and silly gags, not quite landing any one mode. The fault lies not with Cox's performance, who is admirably committed the silliness and cringe required by the unusual premise. Cox exhibits a endearing lack of ego that offers a significant portion of the appeal for this on-the-rocks couple. Her co-star Deschanel, as is her trademark, injects a distinctive offbeat energy that will either resonate with viewers. Her portrayal can feel a little too aloof, particularly when alongside Cox's vulnerable performance. (On another note, Merv himself is convincing at acting depressed – not quite a canine thespian of that caliber, he remains a scene-stealer.)
The story strives to add substance to the central romance for sequences focusing solely on them – a bit of a pity, since the title character is undoubtedly the cutest element of this film designed for charm. As one might predict, it just about gets by. The reason for their separation could have been more nuanced with more screen time and less blunt explanation. As it stands, Merv is gentle and pleasant, hitting all its marks. Making a film on this shared-custody premise has potential – though I wouldn't call it a great one either.
- Merv premieres on Amazon Prime Video this December.
