It is a common warning among many that co-parenting a pet post-separation is ill-advised. Most will argue such arrangements prevent ex-partners from healing, cause practical headaches, fuel disputes, and are a nuisance for everyone involved. As it turns out, in a revelation suited to a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to the dogs themselves to experience sadness.
Not to downplay the inner life of our pets – many owners speak of their profound sensitivity. To witness a standout portrayal in canine melancholy, simply recall recent cinema. There is little doubt that a dog such as Merv, a spirited little dog portrayed by the canine actor Gus, would find it difficult adjusting to divided living arrangements. If this concept a full holiday film on this conflict is sustainable is rather doubtful.Predictable Foundations
To its credit, Merv, written by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and directed by Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be anything more than its premise. It functions as a seasonal offering from a corporate studio – the complexity is limited. The plot unfolds as uncomplicated: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their individual funk is matched by their dog's, embark on a uplifting getaway to a canine-centric retreat. There, inevitably, they will surely realize the idea that they are better together. Ensemble players – including Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – fulfill roles quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually has the quality of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is visibly contrived – exemplified by obvious snow effects clinging to green trees as a summer location stands in for a cold December city.
The Canine Charisma
Whether these predictable parts merge into an entertaining watch rests upon the strength of the performances and one's taste for comfort viewing. Regarding the second aspect, Merv hones in on a demographic – individuals who seek out for cute animal clips. The film delivers a plethora of adorable dog montages. The main attraction is Merv himself, and though it results in some clunky cuts between what the dog does and people's faces, the movie succeeds in showing canine party antics, dog depression, and, in the end, pure puppy happiness.
The Human Element
This level of success cannot be applied for the interpersonal drama. The film's approach vacillates between emotional depth, broad humor, formulaic romance, and outright slapstick, not quite landing a single genre. The fault lies not with the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the absurd and awkward required by the bizarre setting. His performance contains a charming humility that provides a significant portion of the appeal for this seemingly ideal couple. Zooey Deschanel, in her typical fashion, brings a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal seems a bit too dry, especially when alongside Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (On another note, the canine performer manages looking despondent – while no a canine thespian of that caliber, he remains a scene-stealer.)
The film attempts to give weight to Anna and Russ's relationship for sequences focusing solely on them – a bit of a pity, given that Merv is easily the most adorable aspect of this film designed for charm. Unsurprisingly, it achieves only baseline competence. The reason for the split might seem more adult and realistic with more screen time and less blunt explanation. In the end, Merv is gentle and pleasant, hitting every expected note. Creating a movie on this shared-custody premise is not terrible – even if it's not exactly a stroke of genius.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video on December 10th.
