This is a widely held belief for numerous people that co-parenting a pet post-separation is a recipe for trouble. Experts frequently claim such setups prevent individuals from healing, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and become annoying across the board. As it turns out, as a development fit for a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause the dogs themselves to experience sadness.
Not to downplay the inner life of animals – countless people observe their deep emotional capacity. If you need standout portrayal in canine melancholy, simply recall recent cinema. I firmly believe that a dog such as Merv, a scruffy terrier type portrayed by the canine actor Gus, would have a hard time adapting to divided living arrangements. Whether this premise a full holiday film on this conflict is sustainable is debatable at best.A Familiar Formula
Fairness demands noting, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and under the guidance of director Swale, never aspires to be anything more than a light film. We have here a Christmas movie from a corporate studio – the complexity are modest. The narrative is destined to be simple and direct: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their own sadness is matched by their dog's, decide on a cheer-up vacation to a dog-friendly resort. Once there, as expected, they will presumably realize the idea that they are better together. The supporting cast – played by Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – are crafted as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Its aesthetic carries the feel of a streaming service original, with a wintry atmosphere that is visibly contrived – exemplified by flurries clinging to lush pines as North Carolina doubles as the Northeast.
The Dog's Domain
How these familiar elements come together into something enjoyable depends on the strength of the performances and the viewer's appetite for easy entertainment. Regarding the second aspect, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who browse regularly for pet content. The film delivers a series of scenes focused on the pet. The primary selling point is the dog, and while this leads to some clunky cuts between what the dog does and the actors' responses, the movie succeeds in showing canine party antics, canine sorrow, and, in the end, pure puppy happiness.
Where It Wobbles
The same praise is not earned for the interpersonal drama. Its style shifts uneasily between serious study, wacky comedy, predictable love story, and outright slapstick, failing to master a consistent feel. The fault lies not with the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the absurd and awkward demanded of the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a charming humility that supplies the bulk of the chemistry for this ostensibly perfect couple. Her co-star Deschanel, in her typical fashion, imparts a distinctive offbeat energy that will either resonate with viewers. Her Anna seems a bit too dry, especially when paired with Cox's genuine sadness. (It should be noted, the canine performer succeeds in looking despondent – not quite a canine thespian of that caliber, he's definitely a very good boy.)
Merv tries to give weight to the couple's history for scenes without their pet – a regrettable choice, given that the dog is easily the most adorable aspect of this feel-good picture. As one might predict, it meets the bare minimum. The reason for their original breakup would feel more nuanced with less exposition and fewer direct statements. In the end, Merv is gentle and pleasant, fulfilling all its marks. Making a film with this canine conflict is not terrible – but I wouldn't call it a great one either.
- Merv premieres on Amazon Prime Video on December 10th.
