It is a common warning in certain circles that sharing custody a pet after a breakup is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such arrangements hinder ex-partners from finding closure, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and are a nuisance across the board. As it turns out, as a development fit for a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to our furry friends to experience sadness.
Not to downplay the mental health of dogs – countless people observe their deep emotional capacity. To witness a standout portrayal in canine melancholy, one need only look a past film. There is little doubt that a dog like Merv, a scruffy terrier type played by a talented dog named Gus, would struggle coping with life in two homes. Whether this premise a full holiday film on such a setup holds water seems debatable at best.Predictable Foundations
Fairness demands noting, Merv, written by its screenwriters and directed by director Swale, makes no grand claims anything more than its premise. It functions as a Christmas movie from a streaming platform giant – the depth are modest. The plot proves to be simple and direct: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their own sadness is surpassed by their dog's, embark on a cheer-up vacation to a canine-centric retreat. At this location, predictably, they will presumably stumble toward the idea that they belong with each other. Side characters – played by Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – are crafted as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Its aesthetic is reminiscent of a branded content, with a holiday backdrop that is obviously artificial – as seen in fake snow piled on green trees as a warm climate stands in for the Northeast.
Where the Film Shines
How these predictable parts merge into a pleasant experience hinges on the execution and the viewer's appetite for easy entertainment. Regarding the second aspect, Merv targets a specific viewer – individuals who scroll endlessly for pet content. The film delivers a wealth of canine-centric sequences. The central draw is Merv himself, and while this leads to some stilted moments between the pet's "lines" and human reaction, the movie delivers on dog beach fun, canine sorrow, and, finally, doggie joy.
The Human Element
This level of success cannot be applied for the human side of the story. The film's approach wavers between relationship drama, broad humor, predictable love story, and physical comedy, never fully committing to a single genre. This is not the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the humiliating and funny inherent in the bizarre setting. His performance contains a charming humility that provides the bulk of the chemistry for this seemingly ideal couple. Her co-star Deschanel, as is her trademark, imparts a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna comes across as a touch too detached, especially when paired with Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (On another note, Merv himself succeeds in looking despondent – not quite a canine thespian of that caliber, he is still an excellent dog.)
The film attempts to provide depth to Anna and Russ's relationship for moments when the dog is absent – a regrettable choice, given that the title character is undoubtedly the most adorable aspect of this film designed for charm. As one might predict, it meets the bare minimum. The cause for their separation would feel more adult and realistic with less exposition and more subtle storytelling. As it stands, Merv is light and sugary, meeting all its marks. Making a film on this shared-custody premise isn't a bad idea – but it's hardly a brilliant concept.
- Merv streams on the Amazon platform on December 10th.
