It is a common warning for numerous people that co-parenting a canine companion following a split is a terrible idea. Experts frequently claim such situations hinder individuals from finding closure, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and are a nuisance for all parties. Apparently, as a development suited to a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause the canine in question to experience sadness.
Without minimizing the emotional well-being of animals – many owners speak of their remarkable empathy. For a standout portrayal in dog sorrow, one need only look another performance. There is little doubt that a dog like Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix brought to life by the canine actor Gus, would struggle adapting to split households. Whether this premise a full holiday film around this situation is sustainable remains a questionable prospect.Predictable Foundations
To its credit, Merv, the work of Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and directed by playwright Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims anything more than its premise. We have here a seasonal offering from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the complexity are modest. The narrative unfolds as simple and direct: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their own sadness is matched by their dog's, decide on a uplifting getaway to a luxury pet hotel. At this location, predictably, they will undoubtedly stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. Ensemble players – featuring a group of comedic actors – fulfill roles the usual assortment of types. The film's look carries the feel of a streaming service original, with a Christmas setting that is obviously artificial – as seen in fake snow piled on lush pines as a summer location doubles as the Northeast.
Where the Film Shines
If these predictable parts come together into a pleasant experience hinges on the actors' work and an acceptance of comfort viewing. On the latter point, Merv targets a specific viewer – individuals who seek out for pet content. The film delivers a series of adorable dog montages. The central draw is the dog, and though it results in some clunky cuts between what the dog does and people's faces, the movie succeeds in showing walking sequences, canine sorrow, and, finally, pure puppy happiness.
The Two-Legged Cast
Such effectiveness cannot be applied for the human side of the story. The film's approach vacillates between relationship drama, broad humor, standard rom-com beats, and outright slapstick, never fully committing to any one mode. This is not Charlie Cox, who is willing to embrace the silliness and cringe inherent in the bizarre setting. His performance contains a endearing lack of ego that provides a significant portion of the appeal for this on-the-rocks couple. Zooey Deschanel, as is her trademark, injects a particular brand of eccentricity that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna comes across as a little too aloof, particularly when alongside Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (It should be noted, the canine performer is convincing at acting depressed – not quite the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he's definitely a very good boy.)
The story strives to provide depth to the couple's history for moments when the dog is absent – a regrettable choice, given that Merv is undoubtedly the most adorable aspect of this cute-aiming movie. As one might predict, it achieves only baseline competence. The catalyst for their separation could have been more adult and realistic with more screen time and more subtle storytelling. Ultimately, Merv is light and sugary, meeting all its marks. Creating a movie on this shared-custody premise is not terrible – though it's not exactly a great one either.
- Merv becomes available on the Amazon platform on December 10th.
