This is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that jointly caring for a canine companion following a split is ill-advised. Experts frequently claim such arrangements hinder ex-partners from moving forward, cause practical headaches, fuel disputes, and prove frustrating across the board. Seemingly, as a development fit for a streaming movie, it also makes our furry friends to feel down.
Without minimizing the inner life of our pets – countless people observe their remarkable empathy. To witness a standout portrayal in dog sorrow, simply recall recent cinema. There is little doubt that a dog like Merv, a spirited little dog brought to life by Gus the Dog, would struggle coping with divided living arrangements. If this concept a full holiday film on such a setup is sustainable seems debatable at best.A Familiar Formula
Honestly, Merv, the work of its screenwriters and helmed by director Swale, doesn't pretend to be deeper than its premise. This is a holiday release from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the ambitions is limited. Its storyline unfolds as uncomplicated: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their post-breakup gloom is rivaled only by their dog's, take a uplifting getaway to a luxury pet hotel. There, inevitably, they will undoubtedly stumble toward the idea that they are better together. The supporting cast – featuring familiar faces – are crafted as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Visually has the quality of a platform's in-house production, with a Christmas setting that is obviously artificial – as seen in obvious snow effects piled on green trees as North Carolina substitutes for the Northeast.
The Dog's Domain
If these predictable parts coalesce into an entertaining watch hinges on the execution and an acceptance of easy entertainment. On the latter point, Merv knows its audience – those people who seek out for dog videos. Audiences receive a plethora of scenes focused on the pet. The main attraction is the dog, and though it results in some awkward editing between animal action and the actors' responses, the movie delivers on dog beach fun, pet moping, and, finally, doggie joy.
The Two-Legged Cast
Such effectiveness does not extend for the romantic plot. The tone vacillates between serious study, broad humor, standard rom-com beats, and silly gags, failing to master any one mode. This is not the actor playing Russ, who is willing to embrace the silliness and cringe inherent in the unusual premise. He brings a likable self-deprecation that offers a significant portion of the appeal for this seemingly ideal couple. Her co-star Deschanel, true to her usual style, imparts a certain millennial quirkiness that will click for some but not others. Her Anna seems a little too aloof, especially when paired with Cox's vulnerable performance. (For what it's worth, Merv himself manages looking despondent – he may not be the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he remains a scene-stealer.)
Merv tries to add substance to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – a bit of a pity, since Merv is easily the most adorable aspect of this cute-aiming movie. As one might predict, it just about gets by. The cause for the split would feel more adult and realistic with greater exploration and more subtle storytelling. As it stands, Merv is gentle and pleasant, hitting precisely what you anticipate. Making a film on this shared-custody premise has potential – but it's hardly a great one either.
- Merv becomes available on Amazon Prime Video starting December 10.
