It is a widely held belief for numerous people that sharing custody a canine companion post-separation is ill-advised. Experts frequently claim such arrangements impede former couples from moving forward, create logistical nightmares, lead to tension, and become annoying across the board. As it turns out, and in a twist fit for a streaming movie, it can even cause our furry friends to become depressed.
While respecting the inner life of animals – countless people speak of their profound sensitivity. For a masterclass in pet despair, one need only look recent cinema. I firmly believe that a dog of Merv's nature, a spirited little dog portrayed by a talented dog named Gus, would struggle coping with divided living arrangements. The idea of basing a full holiday film around this situation holds water remains rather doubtful.Predictable Foundations
Fairness demands noting, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and directed by Jessica Swale, never aspires to be anything more than a light film. It functions as a Christmas movie from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the depth are modest. Its storyline proves to be uncomplicated: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their post-breakup gloom is matched by their dog's, embark on a cheer-up vacation to a dog-friendly resort. At this location, predictably, they will undoubtedly rediscover the idea that they are better together. Side characters – featuring familiar faces – fulfill roles quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic has the quality of a platform's in-house production, with a wintry atmosphere that is obviously artificial – as seen in fake snow clinging to green trees as North Carolina doubles as a wintery Boston.
The Dog's Domain
Whether these familiar elements merge into an entertaining watch hinges on the strength of the performances and an acceptance of comfort viewing. On the latter point, Merv knows its audience – the kind who scroll endlessly for pet content. Audiences receive a series of canine-centric sequences. The primary selling point is the dog, and even if it causes some clunky cuts between what the dog does and human reaction, the movie succeeds in showing dog beach fun, canine sorrow, and, finally, a tail-wagging resolution.
Where It Wobbles
Such effectiveness does not extend for the human side of the story. Its style wavers between relationship drama, wacky comedy, formulaic romance, and physical comedy, failing to master a single genre. The fault lies not with Charlie Cox, who is fully game the humiliating and funny inherent in the unusual premise. He brings a charming humility that supplies the bulk of the chemistry for this ostensibly perfect couple. Zooey Deschanel, true to her usual style, imparts a particular brand of eccentricity that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna comes across as a little too aloof, particularly when contrasted against Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (For what it's worth, Gus the Dog succeeds in flopping and whining – while no a canine thespian of that caliber, he's definitely an excellent dog.)
The film attempts to provide depth to the central romance for moments when the dog is absent – a bit of a pity, since Merv is easily the most adorable aspect of this feel-good picture. Unsurprisingly, it meets the bare minimum. The cause for the split could have been more grounded and mature with greater exploration and fewer direct statements. In the end, Merv is light and sugary, fulfilling precisely what you anticipate. Creating a movie about dog co-parenting isn't a bad idea – though it's not exactly a stroke of genius.
- Merv premieres on the Amazon platform on December 10th.
