This is a common warning for numerous people that sharing custody a pet post-separation is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such situations impede former couples from moving forward, create logistical nightmares, lead to tension, and are a nuisance across the board. Seemingly, as a development worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause our furry friends to feel down.
While respecting the inner life of dogs – many owners speak of their deep emotional capacity. If you need standout portrayal in canine melancholy, one need only look another performance. I firmly believe that a dog of Merv's nature, a wired-hair terrier mix played by Gus the Dog, would struggle coping with divided living arrangements. Whether this premise a full holiday film around this situation works effectively seems a questionable prospect.Predictable Foundations
To its credit, Merv, the work of the writing duo and directed by director Swale, makes no grand claims anything more than a light film. We have here a seasonal offering from a corporate studio – the ambitions is limited. The narrative is destined to be simple and direct: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their post-breakup gloom is rivaled only by their dog's, embark on a cheer-up vacation to a dog-friendly resort. Once there, as expected, they will surely realize the idea that they are better together. Side characters – played by familiar faces – fulfill roles eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Visually has the quality of a branded content, with a Christmas setting that is obviously artificial – exemplified by flurries clinging to lush pines as a summer location stands in for the Northeast.
Where the Film Shines
How these standard ingredients coalesce into a pleasant experience rests upon the actors' work and one's taste for comfort viewing. On the latter point, Merv targets a specific viewer – individuals who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. Audiences receive a series of canine-centric sequences. The central draw is the dog, and even if it causes some awkward editing between animal action and human reaction, the movie succeeds in showing walking sequences, dog depression, and, ultimately, doggie joy.
The Two-Legged Cast
Such effectiveness cannot be applied for the romantic plot. Its style wavers between emotional depth, broad humor, predictable love story, and physical comedy, failing to master a single genre. No blame falls on the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the silliness and cringe inherent in the dog resort scenario. Cox exhibits a likable self-deprecation that provides the bulk of the chemistry for this seemingly ideal couple. Zooey Deschanel, true to her usual style, brings a certain millennial quirkiness that will either resonate with viewers. The character seems a little too aloof, notably when paired with Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (On another note, Merv himself is convincing at acting depressed – not quite the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he remains a scene-stealer.)
The film attempts to add substance to the couple's history for moments when the dog is absent – a bit of a pity, since the dog is undoubtedly the most adorable aspect of this feel-good picture. As one might predict, it just about gets by. The reason for the split could have been more grounded and mature with greater exploration and less blunt explanation. Ultimately, Merv is slight and sweet, fulfilling precisely what you anticipate. Making a film with this canine conflict is not terrible – even if it's not exactly a stroke of genius.
- Merv premieres on the Amazon platform on December 10th.
