This is a widely held belief for numerous people that co-parenting a pet after a breakup is a terrible idea. Most will argue such arrangements hinder ex-partners from moving forward, lead to scheduling chaos, spark arguments, and prove frustrating for everyone involved. Apparently, and in a twist fit for a direct-to-platform film, it also makes our furry friends to become depressed.
Not to downplay the emotional well-being of dogs – many owners attest to their remarkable empathy. For a standout portrayal in canine melancholy, simply recall a past film. It seems certain that a dog of Merv's nature, a wired-hair terrier mix brought to life by a talented dog named Gus, would find it difficult adapting to split households. Whether this premise a full holiday film on such a setup works effectively remains debatable at best.A Familiar Formula
Fairness demands noting, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and helmed by playwright Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be deeper than a light film. We have here a Christmas movie from a corporate studio – the ambitions is limited. Its storyline proves to be simple and direct: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their post-breakup gloom is rivaled only by their dog's, embark on a cheer-up vacation to a dog-friendly resort. There, inevitably, they will undoubtedly realize the idea that they belong with each other. Side characters – played by a group of comedic actors – serve as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. The film's look carries the feel of a platform's in-house production, with a wintry atmosphere that is visibly contrived – exemplified by obvious snow effects clinging to verdant foliage as North Carolina doubles as the Northeast.
The Dog's Domain
How these predictable parts coalesce into a pleasant experience depends on the actors' work and an acceptance of comfort viewing. Regarding the second aspect, Merv targets a specific viewer – individuals who seek out for cute animal clips. The film delivers a series of canine-centric sequences. The central draw is Merv himself, and while this leads to some stilted moments between what the dog does and human reaction, the movie delivers on walking sequences, canine sorrow, and, finally, pure puppy happiness.
The Two-Legged Cast
Such effectiveness does not extend for the human side of the story. Its style shifts uneasily between relationship drama, broad humor, formulaic romance, and outright slapstick, not quite landing a consistent feel. The fault lies not with the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the absurd and awkward inherent in 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, as is her trademark, imparts a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal comes across as a little too aloof, notably when contrasted against Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (On another note, Merv himself succeeds in acting depressed – he may not be a canine thespian of that caliber, he is still an excellent dog.)
Merv tries to add substance to the central romance for sequences focusing solely on them – which is unfortunate, given that the title character is easily the best part of this feel-good picture. Unsurprisingly, it achieves only baseline competence. The reason for the split might seem more grounded and mature with less exposition and less blunt explanation. As it stands, Merv is slight and sweet, hitting precisely what you anticipate. Creating a movie on this shared-custody premise isn't a bad idea – even if it's hardly a great one either.
- Merv premieres on the Amazon platform starting December 10.
