It is a common warning among many that co-parenting a pet post-separation is ill-advised. Experts frequently claim such situations prevent individuals from finding closure, lead to scheduling chaos, spark arguments, and become annoying across the board. Apparently, in a revelation fit for a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause the canine in question to feel down.
While respecting the emotional well-being of our pets – countless people attest to their deep emotional capacity. If you need standout portrayal in canine melancholy, one need only look recent cinema. It seems certain that a dog such as Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix played by the canine actor Gus, would have a hard time coping with life in two homes. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom around this situation holds water seems rather doubtful.Standard Holiday Fare
To its credit, Merv, written by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and helmed by director Swale, doesn't pretend to be anything more than a light film. It functions as a Christmas movie from a streaming platform giant – the depth is limited. The narrative is destined to be uncomplicated: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their own sadness is rivaled only by their dog's, embark on a uplifting getaway to a luxury pet hotel. There, inevitably, they will undoubtedly rediscover the idea that they should reunite. Ensemble players – featuring familiar faces – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. The film's look has the quality of a branded content, with a wintry atmosphere that is visibly contrived – exemplified by obvious snow effects surrounding lush pines as North Carolina stands in for a cold December city.
The Canine Charisma
Whether these predictable parts come together into a pleasant experience depends on the strength of the performances and the viewer's appetite for easy entertainment. Regarding the second aspect, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who scroll endlessly for dog videos. It provides a plethora of scenes focused on the pet. The central draw is Merv himself, and even if it causes some awkward editing between what the dog does and the actors' responses, the movie succeeds in showing dog beach fun, pet moping, and, ultimately, doggie joy.
The Human Element
Such effectiveness does not extend for the interpersonal drama. The tone wavers between serious study, zany antics, predictable love story, and silly gags, not quite landing any one mode. This is not Cox's performance, who is fully game the humiliating and funny demanded of the dog resort scenario. Cox exhibits a charming humility that supplies a significant portion of the appeal for this on-the-rocks couple. Anna's portrayer, in her typical fashion, imparts a particular brand of eccentricity that will either resonate with viewers. Her portrayal seems a little too aloof, especially when alongside Cox's vulnerable performance. (For what it's worth, Merv himself succeeds in acting depressed – not quite the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he is still a very good boy.)
The film attempts to give weight to the central romance for moments when the dog is absent – a regrettable choice, considering the dog is by far the cutest element of this feel-good picture. As one might predict, it meets the bare minimum. The cause for the split could have been more adult and realistic with greater exploration and fewer direct statements. As it stands, Merv is light and sugary, fulfilling precisely what you anticipate. Crafting a story on this shared-custody premise has potential – even if I wouldn't call it a stroke of genius.
- Merv becomes available on Prime Video starting December 10.
