It is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that co-parenting a pet post-separation is a terrible idea. Experts frequently claim such arrangements prevent individuals from moving forward, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and prove frustrating across the board. Apparently, in a revelation fit for a streaming movie, it also makes the dogs themselves to feel down.
While respecting the emotional well-being of dogs – many owners attest to their profound sensitivity. If you need prime example in pet despair, one need only look recent cinema. There is little doubt that a dog of Merv's nature, a wired-hair terrier mix portrayed by the canine actor Gus, would find it difficult adapting to life in two homes. If this concept a full holiday film on this conflict works effectively is debatable at best.Predictable Foundations
Honestly, Merv, written by its screenwriters and directed by director Swale, never aspires to be anything more than what it is. It functions as a Christmas movie from a corporate studio – the depth is limited. The plot is destined to be simple and direct: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their individual funk is matched by their dog's, decide on a uplifting getaway to a canine-centric retreat. Once there, as expected, they will presumably stumble toward the idea that they belong with each other. Side characters – including a group of comedic actors – serve as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Its aesthetic carries the feel of a platform's in-house production, with a Christmas setting that is visibly contrived – as seen in fake snow surrounding green trees as a summer location doubles as a cold December city.
Where the Film Shines
How these predictable parts come together into an entertaining watch hinges on the actors' work and an acceptance of comfort viewing. On the latter point, Merv hones in on a demographic – individuals who seek out for pet content. Audiences receive a series of adorable dog montages. The central draw is the dog, and while this leads to some stilted moments between the pet's "lines" and people's faces, the movie succeeds in showing dog beach fun, dog depression, and, finally, pure puppy happiness.
The Two-Legged Cast
The same praise cannot be applied for the romantic plot. Its style shifts uneasily between serious study, wacky comedy, predictable love story, and silly gags, failing to master a single genre. No blame falls on Cox's performance, who is fully game the silliness and cringe inherent in the bizarre setting. Cox exhibits a endearing lack of ego that provides a significant portion of the appeal for this seemingly ideal couple. Anna's portrayer, as is her trademark, injects a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna can feel a little too aloof, especially when contrasted against Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (It should be noted, the canine performer manages acting depressed – he may not be the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he remains an excellent dog.)
The film attempts to provide depth to Anna and Russ's relationship for sequences focusing solely on them – a bit of a pity, since the dog is by far the most adorable aspect of this cute-aiming movie. Unsurprisingly, it just about gets by. The reason for the split might seem more nuanced with less exposition and more subtle storytelling. Ultimately, Merv is slight and sweet, fulfilling precisely what you anticipate. Creating a movie with this canine conflict is not terrible – but I wouldn't call it a brilliant concept.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video starting December 10.
