It is a common warning for numerous people that sharing custody a dog following a split is a recipe for trouble. Experts frequently claim such situations hinder individuals from finding closure, create logistical nightmares, lead to tension, and prove frustrating for everyone involved. Apparently, and in a twist suited to a streaming movie, it also makes the dogs themselves to experience sadness.
Not to downplay the inner life of dogs – pet parents observe their remarkable empathy. If you need prime example in dog sorrow, simply recall another performance. I firmly believe that a dog like Merv, a spirited little dog portrayed by a talented dog named Gus, would find it difficult adjusting to split households. The idea of basing a full holiday film around this situation holds water remains debatable at best.A Familiar Formula
To its credit, Merv, written by the writing duo and directed by playwright Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims more profound than a light film. This is a holiday release from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the ambitions is limited. The narrative unfolds as straightforward: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their post-breakup gloom is rivaled only by their dog's, embark on a therapeutic trip to a dog-friendly resort. There, inevitably, they will presumably rediscover the idea that they are better together. Ensemble players – featuring Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic is reminiscent of a branded content, with a holiday backdrop that is clearly manufactured – exemplified by obvious snow effects piled on lush pines as North Carolina doubles as the Northeast.
The Canine Charisma
How these predictable parts coalesce into a pleasant experience depends on the actors' work and one's taste for comfort viewing. On the latter point, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who scroll endlessly for pet content. Audiences receive a plethora of adorable dog montages. The main attraction is Merv himself, and while this leads to some stilted moments between the pet's "lines" and the actors' responses, the movie succeeds in showing dog beach fun, pet moping, and, in the end, doggie joy.
The Human Element
Such effectiveness does not extend for the interpersonal drama. The tone vacillates between relationship drama, broad humor, predictable love story, and silly gags, never fully committing to any one mode. This is not Charlie Cox, who is fully game the absurd and awkward required by the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a charming humility that offers much of the film's charm for this ostensibly perfect couple. Zooey Deschanel, in her typical fashion, imparts a distinctive offbeat energy that will either resonate with viewers. Her Anna comes across as a touch too detached, particularly when contrasted against Cox's vulnerable performance. (On another note, the canine performer is convincing at acting depressed – not quite a canine thespian of that caliber, he is still a very good boy.)
The film attempts to give weight to the central romance for scenes without their pet – which is unfortunate, considering the dog is by far the cutest element of this film designed for charm. Unsurprisingly, it achieves only baseline competence. The reason for the split would feel more grounded and mature with more screen time and less blunt explanation. As it stands, Merv is gentle and pleasant, meeting precisely what you anticipate. Creating a movie with this canine conflict is not terrible – even if it's hardly a great one either.
- Merv streams on the Amazon platform this December.
