It is an often-repeated piece of advice in certain circles that sharing custody a pet post-separation is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such setups hinder former couples from healing, lead to scheduling chaos, spark arguments, and become annoying across the board. Apparently, as a development fit for a streaming movie, it also makes the dogs themselves to become depressed.
Not to downplay the inner life of our pets – countless people speak of their deep emotional capacity. To witness a prime example in canine melancholy, consider recent cinema. It seems certain that a dog of Merv's nature, a wired-hair terrier mix brought to life by a talented dog named Gus, would find it difficult adjusting to split households. If this concept a full holiday film on such a setup holds water remains debatable at best.A Familiar Formula
Fairness demands noting, Merv, written by the writing duo and under the guidance of Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be more profound than its premise. It functions as a holiday release from a streaming platform giant – the ambitions is limited. The narrative is destined to be uncomplicated: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their individual funk is rivaled only by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. Once there, as expected, they will surely stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. Side characters – played by familiar faces – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic carries the feel of a streaming service original, with a Christmas setting that is clearly manufactured – think fake snow clinging to lush pines as a summer location substitutes for a cold December city.
The Canine Charisma
If these familiar elements merge into an entertaining watch depends on the actors' work and the viewer's appetite for cinematic comfort food. On the latter point, Merv knows its audience – the kind who seek out for dog videos. It provides a wealth of canine-centric sequences. The main attraction is the canine star, and even if it causes some stilted moments between animal action and the actors' responses, the movie succeeds in showing canine party antics, canine sorrow, and, finally, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Human Element
The same praise is not earned for the romantic plot. The film's approach vacillates between serious study, wacky comedy, predictable love story, and physical comedy, not quite landing a consistent feel. The fault lies not with Cox's performance, who is admirably committed the humiliating and funny demanded of the bizarre setting. Cox exhibits a endearing lack of ego that supplies the bulk of the chemistry for this ostensibly perfect couple. Zooey Deschanel, in her typical fashion, injects a certain millennial quirkiness that will either resonate with viewers. Her Anna can feel a little too aloof, notably when alongside Cox's vulnerable performance. (It should be noted, Gus the Dog succeeds in looking despondent – he may not be Messi from that acclaimed drama, he remains a scene-stealer.)
The film attempts to provide depth to the central romance for scenes without their pet – a regrettable choice, considering the dog is by far the most adorable aspect of this cute-aiming movie. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The cause 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 precisely what you anticipate. Making a film on this shared-custody premise is not terrible – though it's not exactly a great one either.
- Merv streams on the Amazon platform on December 10th.
