This is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that co-parenting a pet post-separation is ill-advised. Most will argue such arrangements hinder individuals from finding closure, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and are a nuisance across the board. Seemingly, as a development fit for a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to our furry friends to become depressed.
Without minimizing the emotional well-being of dogs – pet parents speak of their deep emotional capacity. If you need masterclass in canine melancholy, consider a past film. It seems certain that a dog like Merv, a spirited little dog played by a talented dog named Gus, would have a hard time coping with split households. The idea of basing a full holiday film on this conflict works effectively seems a questionable prospect.A Familiar Formula
Honestly, Merv, the work of the writing duo and under the guidance of director Swale, makes no grand claims anything more than its premise. It functions as a Christmas movie from a streaming platform giant – the ambitions are modest. Its storyline is destined to be straightforward: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their individual funk is surpassed by their dog's, take a uplifting getaway to a canine-centric retreat. At this location, predictably, they will undoubtedly rediscover the idea that they are better together. Ensemble players – including a group of comedic actors – serve as the usual assortment of types. Its aesthetic carries the feel of a streaming service original, with a holiday backdrop that is visibly contrived – exemplified by flurries clinging to green trees as a warm climate substitutes for the Northeast.
The Canine Charisma
How these standard ingredients merge into something enjoyable rests upon the strength of the performances and the viewer's appetite for easy entertainment. Regarding the second aspect, Merv hones in on a demographic – those people who browse regularly for cute animal clips. The film delivers a plethora of adorable dog montages. The central draw is the canine star, and though it results in some stilted moments between the pet's "lines" and people's faces, the movie delivers on dog beach fun, dog depression, and, finally, doggie joy.
The Two-Legged Cast
This level of success cannot be applied for the human side of the story. The tone shifts uneasily between serious study, broad humor, predictable love story, and outright slapstick, never fully committing to a consistent feel. This is not Charlie Cox, who is admirably committed the silliness and cringe required by the unusual premise. He brings a charming humility that provides the bulk of the chemistry for this seemingly ideal couple. Zooey Deschanel, true to her usual style, imparts a certain millennial quirkiness that will click for some but not others. Her Anna comes across as a touch too detached, particularly when contrasted against Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (For what it's worth, the canine performer is convincing at looking despondent – he may not be Messi from that acclaimed drama, he remains an excellent dog.)
The film attempts to provide depth to the couple's history for scenes without their pet – which is unfortunate, considering Merv is easily the cutest element of this cute-aiming movie. Expectedly, it meets the bare minimum. The cause for their separation could have been more grounded and mature with more screen time and fewer direct statements. In the end, Merv is gentle and pleasant, hitting precisely what you anticipate. Creating a movie on this shared-custody premise has potential – even if I wouldn't call it a stroke of genius.
- Merv premieres on Amazon Prime Video on December 10th.
