It is a widely held belief among many that sharing custody a pet post-separation is a recipe for trouble. Most will argue such arrangements hinder individuals from healing, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and become annoying for all parties. Seemingly, in a revelation worthy of a streaming movie, it can even cause the canine in question to feel down.
Without minimizing the emotional well-being of animals – countless people speak of their deep emotional capacity. For a prime example in dog sorrow, one need only look recent cinema. I firmly believe that a dog such as Merv, a spirited little dog played by the canine actor Gus, would find it difficult adapting to life in two homes. If this concept a full holiday film around this situation works effectively seems rather doubtful.Predictable Foundations
To its credit, Merv, written by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and under the guidance of director Swale, never aspires to be anything more than what it is. It functions as a holiday release from a streaming platform giant – the complexity are modest. Its storyline unfolds as simple and direct: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their individual funk is rivaled only by their dog's, embark on a therapeutic trip to a luxury pet hotel. There, inevitably, they will surely rediscover the idea that they are better together. The supporting cast – played by Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – fulfill roles eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Visually is reminiscent of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is visibly contrived – as seen in obvious snow effects clinging to green trees as a warm climate stands in for the Northeast.
The Dog's Domain
If these predictable parts coalesce into a pleasant experience rests upon the execution and one's taste for easy entertainment. On the latter point, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who browse regularly for cute animal clips. The film delivers a plethora of canine-centric sequences. The primary selling point is the canine star, and even if it causes some stilted moments between what the dog does and people's faces, the movie does offer walking sequences, dog depression, and, in the end, doggie joy.
The Human Element
This level of success is not earned for the interpersonal drama. Its style shifts uneasily between relationship drama, wacky comedy, predictable love story, and silly gags, failing to master a single genre. The fault lies not with the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the absurd and awkward inherent in the unusual premise. Cox exhibits a charming humility that provides much of the film's charm for this ostensibly perfect couple. Zooey Deschanel, true to her usual style, imparts a certain millennial quirkiness that will either resonate with viewers. Her portrayal comes across as a touch too detached, particularly when paired with Cox's genuine sadness. (It should be noted, Gus the Dog manages acting depressed – while no a canine thespian of that caliber, he is still a very good boy.)
Merv tries to provide depth to the couple's history for scenes without their pet – a regrettable choice, given that Merv is easily the cutest element of this cute-aiming movie. Unsurprisingly, it just about gets by. The reason for their separation might seem more grounded and mature with greater exploration and less blunt explanation. As it stands, Merv is gentle and pleasant, hitting every expected note. Making a film about dog co-parenting has potential – even if it's hardly a great one either.
- Merv premieres on Prime Video on December 10th.
