This is a common warning among many that jointly caring for a pet post-separation is ill-advised. Experts frequently claim such setups hinder individuals from healing, lead to scheduling chaos, spark arguments, and are a nuisance for all parties. Seemingly, and in a twist suited to a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause the canine in question to feel down.
Without minimizing the inner life of our pets – pet parents observe their deep emotional capacity. To witness a standout portrayal in canine melancholy, simply recall another performance. There is little doubt that a dog such as Merv, a spirited little dog portrayed by the canine actor Gus, would have a hard time coping with split households. Whether this premise a full holiday film on this conflict works effectively seems debatable at best.Predictable Foundations
To its credit, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and helmed by playwright Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims more profound than its premise. We have here a holiday release from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the complexity are modest. The narrative is destined to be simple and direct: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their own sadness is rivaled only by their dog's, decide on a uplifting getaway to a luxury pet hotel. There, inevitably, they will presumably stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. Side characters – featuring familiar faces – serve as the usual assortment of types. The film's look carries the feel of a streaming service original, with a wintry atmosphere that is obviously artificial – exemplified by obvious snow effects piled on verdant foliage as a warm climate stands in for a cold December city.
The Dog's Domain
If these standard ingredients merge into an entertaining watch rests upon the actors' work and one's taste for comfort viewing. Regarding the second aspect, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who seek out for pet content. It provides a plethora of canine-centric sequences. The primary selling point is the canine star, and even if it causes some clunky cuts between the pet's "lines" and the actors' responses, the movie succeeds in showing canine party antics, dog depression, and, ultimately, doggie joy.
Where It Wobbles
The same praise is not earned for the human side of the story. The film's approach shifts uneasily between serious study, broad humor, formulaic romance, and outright slapstick, failing to master a single genre. This is not Cox's performance, who is fully game the silliness and cringe demanded of the bizarre setting. Cox exhibits a likable self-deprecation that provides much of the film's charm for this ostensibly perfect couple. Anna's portrayer, as is her trademark, injects a distinctive offbeat energy that will click for some but not others. The character can feel a bit too dry, especially when contrasted against Cox's genuine sadness. (For what it's worth, the canine performer manages flopping and whining – while no the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he is still a very good boy.)
Merv tries to add substance to the central romance for sequences focusing solely on them – a bit of a pity, given that the title character is by far the most adorable aspect of this cute-aiming movie. Unsurprisingly, it achieves only baseline competence. The cause for the split would feel more adult and realistic with less exposition and less blunt explanation. As it stands, Merv is slight and sweet, fulfilling precisely what you anticipate. Making a film on this shared-custody premise is not terrible – but it's not exactly a great one either.
- Merv premieres on Amazon Prime Video on December 10th.
