This is a common warning in certain circles that sharing custody a canine companion after a breakup is a terrible idea. Experts frequently claim such setups hinder former couples from finding closure, cause practical headaches, fuel disputes, and prove frustrating for everyone involved. Apparently, and in a twist fit for a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause our furry friends to experience sadness.
Without minimizing the mental health of our pets – pet parents speak of their deep emotional capacity. If you need masterclass in pet despair, simply recall recent cinema. I firmly believe that a dog such as Merv, a spirited little dog brought to life by the canine actor Gus, would struggle adjusting to divided living arrangements. Whether this premise a full holiday film on this conflict works effectively seems rather doubtful.Standard Holiday Fare
To its credit, Merv, the work of Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and helmed by director Swale, doesn't pretend to be more profound than what it is. It functions as a seasonal offering from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the depth are modest. The narrative proves to be simple and direct: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their post-breakup gloom is rivaled only by their dog's, decide on a uplifting getaway to a canine-centric retreat. At this location, predictably, they will surely rediscover the idea that they belong with each other. The supporting cast – played by Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic has the quality of a streaming service original, with a wintry atmosphere that is visibly contrived – as seen in fake snow piled on green trees as a warm climate stands in for a wintery Boston.
The Canine Charisma
How these standard ingredients coalesce into something enjoyable depends on the actors' work and one's taste for cinematic comfort food. Regarding the second aspect, Merv hones in on a demographic – the kind who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. The film delivers a series of canine-centric sequences. The main attraction is the canine star, and while this leads to some stilted moments between what the dog does and human reaction, the movie succeeds in showing dog beach fun, canine sorrow, and, in the end, doggie joy.
The Two-Legged Cast
This level of success is not earned for the romantic plot. Its style shifts uneasily between serious study, zany antics, formulaic romance, and physical comedy, failing to master a single genre. This is not the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the absurd and awkward required by the unusual premise. His performance contains a likable self-deprecation that supplies a significant portion of the appeal for this seemingly ideal couple. Her co-star Deschanel, true to her usual style, brings a distinctive offbeat energy that will either resonate with viewers. Her portrayal comes across as a touch too detached, particularly when contrasted against Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (It should be noted, Merv himself is convincing at looking despondent – while no the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he is still a very good boy.)
Merv tries to provide depth to the central romance for sequences focusing solely on them – which is unfortunate, considering the dog is undoubtedly the cutest element of this cute-aiming movie. Expectedly, it achieves only baseline competence. The reason for the split might seem more adult and realistic with less exposition and fewer direct statements. Ultimately, Merv is light and sugary, fulfilling precisely what you anticipate. Making a film on this shared-custody premise is not terrible – though it's not exactly a great one either.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video this December.
