It is a common warning among many that sharing custody a canine companion after a breakup is a terrible idea. Experts frequently claim such situations hinder former couples from finding closure, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and become annoying for all parties. Seemingly, in a revelation suited to a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to our furry friends to become depressed.
While respecting the mental health of animals – pet parents speak of their profound sensitivity. If you need prime example in pet despair, consider recent cinema. There is little doubt that a dog like Merv, a scruffy terrier type played by Gus the Dog, would struggle coping with life in two homes. Whether this premise a full holiday film on such a setup works effectively is debatable at best.Standard Holiday Fare
Fairness demands noting, Merv, the work of its screenwriters and helmed by director Swale, makes no grand claims anything more than its premise. It functions as a seasonal offering from a corporate studio – the ambitions are modest. The plot proves to be uncomplicated: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their own sadness is matched by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a dog-friendly resort. Once there, as expected, they will surely stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. Ensemble players – featuring a group of comedic actors – serve as the usual assortment of types. Visually carries the feel of a streaming service original, with a wintry atmosphere that is obviously artificial – as seen in obvious snow effects surrounding green trees as North Carolina doubles as a cold December city.
The Canine Charisma
If these standard ingredients merge into an entertaining watch rests upon the actors' work and one's taste for comfort viewing. For the comfort factor, Merv hones in on a demographic – those people who seek out for cute animal clips. Audiences receive a wealth of canine-centric sequences. The central draw is the canine star, and though it results in some clunky cuts between animal action and human reaction, the movie succeeds in showing walking sequences, dog depression, and, ultimately, pure puppy happiness.
The Human Element
This level of success is not earned for the romantic plot. The tone shifts uneasily between serious study, wacky comedy, predictable love story, and physical comedy, failing to master any one mode. The fault lies not with the actor playing Russ, who is willing to embrace the absurd and awkward required by the unusual premise. Cox exhibits a endearing lack of ego that offers much of the film's charm for this ostensibly perfect couple. Anna's portrayer, as is her trademark, imparts a distinctive offbeat energy that will either resonate with viewers. Her portrayal can feel a bit too dry, notably when alongside Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (On another note, the canine performer is convincing at flopping and whining – not quite the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he is still a very good boy.)
Merv tries to add substance to the couple's history for scenes without their pet – which is unfortunate, considering the title character is by far the cutest element of this cute-aiming movie. Expectedly, it meets the bare minimum. The reason for the split would feel more nuanced with more screen time and less blunt explanation. Ultimately, Merv is slight and sweet, fulfilling precisely what you anticipate. Crafting a story with this canine conflict has potential – though I wouldn't call it a brilliant concept.
- Merv streams on the Amazon platform starting December 10.
