This is an often-repeated piece of advice among many that co-parenting a dog following a split is a terrible idea. The consensus suggests such situations hinder former couples from healing, cause practical headaches, fuel disputes, and prove frustrating across the board. Seemingly, in a revelation suited to a streaming movie, it can even cause the dogs themselves to experience sadness.
Not to downplay the emotional well-being of our pets – pet parents observe their profound sensitivity. If you need standout portrayal in dog sorrow, one need only look recent cinema. I firmly believe that a dog such as Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix played by Gus the Dog, would have a hard time adjusting to divided living arrangements. Whether this premise an entire Christmas romance around this situation holds water is a questionable prospect.Standard Holiday Fare
To its credit, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and under the guidance of Jessica Swale, never aspires to be deeper than a light film. We have here a seasonal offering from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the ambitions is limited. The plot is destined to be uncomplicated: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their individual funk is rivaled only by their dog's, embark on a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. Once there, as expected, they will undoubtedly rediscover the idea that they belong with each other. Ensemble players – featuring familiar faces – serve as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. The film's look carries the feel of a branded content, with a wintry atmosphere that is clearly manufactured – think flurries piled on lush pines as North Carolina stands in for the Northeast.
Where the Film Shines
How these familiar elements coalesce into something enjoyable depends on the strength of the performances and one's taste for cinematic comfort food. Regarding the second aspect, Merv targets a specific viewer – individuals who browse regularly for dog videos. It provides a wealth of canine-centric sequences. The main attraction is the canine star, and while this leads to some awkward editing between the pet's "lines" and the actors' responses, the movie succeeds in showing walking sequences, dog depression, and, ultimately, pure puppy happiness.
The Two-Legged Cast
Such effectiveness is not earned for the human side of the story. The tone wavers between emotional depth, wacky comedy, predictable love story, and physical comedy, failing to master any one mode. The fault lies not with Cox's performance, who is willing to embrace the silliness and cringe demanded of the unusual premise. Cox exhibits a endearing lack of ego that offers much of the film's charm for this on-the-rocks couple. Zooey Deschanel, true to her usual style, imparts a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal comes across as a bit too dry, particularly when paired with Cox's genuine sadness. (It should be noted, the canine performer manages acting depressed – he may not be the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he is still a scene-stealer.)
The film attempts to give weight to Anna and Russ's relationship for moments when the dog is absent – a regrettable choice, considering the title character is by far the most adorable aspect of this cute-aiming movie. Unsurprisingly, it meets the bare minimum. The catalyst for their original breakup could have been more adult and realistic with less exposition and fewer direct statements. As it stands, Merv is light and sugary, fulfilling every expected note. Creating a movie on this shared-custody premise isn't a bad idea – but I wouldn't call it a brilliant concept.
- Merv streams on Prime Video this December.
