This is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that co-parenting a pet post-separation is a terrible idea. The consensus suggests such arrangements hinder individuals from finding closure, create logistical nightmares, spark arguments, and are a nuisance for everyone involved. Apparently, and in a twist fit for a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to the dogs themselves to become depressed.
Without minimizing the emotional well-being of our pets – many owners speak of their profound sensitivity. If you need masterclass in canine melancholy, consider recent cinema. I firmly believe that a dog of Merv's nature, a scruffy terrier type played by the canine actor Gus, would find it difficult coping with split households. The idea of basing a full holiday film on such a setup is sustainable is rather doubtful.Predictable Foundations
Fairness demands noting, Merv, crafted by the writing duo and directed by director Swale, doesn't pretend to be deeper than a light film. This is a seasonal offering from a streaming platform giant – the ambitions are modest. Its storyline proves to be simple and direct: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their individual funk is matched by their dog's, decide on a cheer-up vacation to a canine-centric retreat. At this location, predictably, they will surely realize the idea that they belong with each other. Ensemble players – played by Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – serve as the usual assortment of types. Its aesthetic has the quality of a platform's in-house production, with a wintry atmosphere that is obviously artificial – think fake snow piled on green trees as a warm climate doubles as the Northeast.
The Canine Charisma
How these predictable parts merge into an entertaining watch hinges on the strength of the performances and one's taste for cinematic comfort food. Regarding the second aspect, Merv knows its audience – the kind who seek out for pet content. Audiences receive a plethora of adorable dog montages. The primary selling point is the dog, and even if it causes some clunky cuts between animal action and human reaction, the movie succeeds in showing walking sequences, pet moping, and, finally, doggie joy.
Where It Wobbles
The same praise cannot be applied for the romantic plot. Its style wavers between emotional depth, wacky comedy, standard rom-com beats, and physical comedy, not quite landing any one mode. This is not Charlie Cox, who is fully game the humiliating and funny demanded of the unusual premise. Cox exhibits a charming humility that supplies a significant portion of the appeal for this on-the-rocks couple. Zooey Deschanel, as is her trademark, injects a distinctive offbeat energy that will either resonate with viewers. Her Anna can feel a bit too dry, particularly when paired with Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (It should be noted, the canine performer succeeds in looking despondent – while no the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he's definitely an excellent dog.)
Merv tries to add substance to Anna and Russ's relationship for moments when the dog is absent – a bit of a pity, given that the title character is by far the cutest element of this feel-good picture. Expectedly, it meets the bare minimum. The catalyst for the split might seem more nuanced with less exposition and less blunt explanation. In the end, Merv is slight and sweet, hitting precisely what you anticipate. Crafting a story on this shared-custody premise isn't a bad idea – but it's not exactly a stroke of genius.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video on December 10th.
