This is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that co-parenting a pet post-separation is a recipe for trouble. The consensus suggests such arrangements impede individuals from moving forward, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and prove frustrating across the board. As it turns out, and in a twist worthy of a streaming movie, it also makes the canine in question to experience sadness.
While respecting the mental health of dogs – many owners observe their remarkable empathy. If you need standout portrayal in canine melancholy, one need only look recent cinema. I firmly believe that a dog of Merv's nature, a scruffy terrier type portrayed by Gus the Dog, would struggle coping with divided living arrangements. The idea of basing a full holiday film around this situation works effectively remains rather doubtful.A Familiar Formula
Honestly, Merv, crafted by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and helmed by playwright Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be anything more than a light film. We have here a holiday release from a streaming platform giant – the depth are modest. Its storyline unfolds as straightforward: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their individual funk is rivaled only by their dog's, embark on a therapeutic trip to a dog-friendly resort. Once there, as expected, they will presumably stumble toward the idea that they belong with each other. Side characters – played by a group of comedic actors – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. The film's look has the quality of a branded content, with a Christmas setting that is visibly contrived – exemplified by obvious snow effects surrounding verdant foliage as North Carolina substitutes for a cold December city.
Where the Film Shines
How these predictable parts come together into an entertaining watch depends on the execution and the viewer's appetite for comfort viewing. For the comfort factor, Merv knows its audience – those people who browse regularly for dog videos. Audiences receive a wealth of adorable dog montages. The main attraction is Merv himself, and while this leads to some clunky cuts between the pet's "lines" and people's faces, the movie succeeds in showing canine party antics, pet moping, and, ultimately, pure puppy happiness.
The Two-Legged Cast
Such effectiveness cannot be applied for the interpersonal drama. The film's approach shifts uneasily between serious study, zany antics, standard rom-com beats, and silly gags, failing to master any one mode. This is not Charlie Cox, who is willing to embrace the silliness and cringe demanded of the dog resort scenario. He brings a endearing lack of ego that supplies the bulk of the chemistry for this on-the-rocks couple. Zooey Deschanel, in her typical fashion, imparts a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal seems a little too aloof, notably when paired with Cox's genuine sadness. (On another note, Merv himself is convincing at flopping and whining – while no the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he is still a scene-stealer.)
The film attempts to add substance to the central romance for sequences focusing solely on them – a regrettable choice, given that the title character is by far the most adorable aspect of this cute-aiming movie. As one might predict, it just about gets by. The catalyst for their original breakup could have been more grounded and mature with greater exploration and more subtle storytelling. As it stands, Merv is gentle and pleasant, fulfilling all its marks. Creating a movie on this shared-custody premise isn't a bad idea – but I wouldn't call it a great one either.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video starting December 10.
