This is a widely held belief among many that sharing custody a pet after a breakup is a terrible idea. The consensus suggests such arrangements hinder individuals from healing, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and are a nuisance for everyone involved. Apparently, as a development worthy of a streaming movie, it also makes our furry friends to become depressed.
Without minimizing the inner life of dogs – pet parents speak of their remarkable empathy. If you need standout portrayal in canine melancholy, simply recall recent cinema. I firmly believe that a dog like Merv, a scruffy terrier type portrayed by the canine actor Gus, would have a hard time adapting to divided living arrangements. Whether this premise an entire Christmas romance around this situation is sustainable seems a questionable prospect.A Familiar Formula
Honestly, Merv, crafted by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and helmed by director Swale, never aspires to be deeper than a light film. It functions as a seasonal offering from a corporate studio – the depth remains surface-level. The narrative unfolds as uncomplicated: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their individual funk is surpassed by their dog's, decide on a therapeutic trip to a dog-friendly resort. There, inevitably, they will presumably stumble toward the idea that they are better together. Ensemble players – including a group of comedic actors – fulfill roles eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Its aesthetic carries the feel of a streaming service original, with a Christmas setting that is clearly manufactured – think fake snow surrounding verdant foliage as a summer location doubles as a wintery Boston.
The Canine Charisma
Whether these predictable parts coalesce into a pleasant experience rests upon the strength of the performances and the viewer's appetite for easy entertainment. For the comfort factor, Merv hones in on a demographic – individuals who seek out for pet content. Audiences receive a wealth of canine-centric sequences. The primary selling point is Merv himself, and though it results in some awkward editing between what the dog does and people's faces, the movie delivers on canine party antics, canine sorrow, and, finally, pure puppy happiness.
The Two-Legged Cast
Such effectiveness does not extend for the interpersonal drama. The tone vacillates between relationship drama, zany antics, predictable love story, and outright slapstick, never fully committing to any one mode. This is not Cox's performance, who is fully game the humiliating and funny demanded of the bizarre setting. Cox exhibits a likable self-deprecation that offers much of the film's charm for this seemingly ideal couple. Zooey Deschanel, true to her usual style, imparts a certain millennial quirkiness that will click for some but not others. Her Anna comes across as a touch too detached, notably when alongside Cox's genuine sadness. (On another note, Gus the Dog succeeds in looking despondent – not quite a canine thespian of that caliber, he's definitely a scene-stealer.)
The film attempts to give weight to the couple's history for scenes without their pet – a bit of a pity, given that Merv is undoubtedly the best part of this film designed for charm. As one might predict, it meets the bare minimum. The catalyst for their separation would feel more adult and realistic with more screen time and less blunt explanation. In the end, Merv is light and sugary, meeting every expected note. Making a film on this shared-custody premise isn't a bad idea – though it's not exactly a brilliant concept.
- Merv premieres on the Amazon platform this December.
