This is an often-repeated piece of advice among many that sharing custody a pet following a split is ill-advised. Most will argue such arrangements impede ex-partners from finding closure, lead to scheduling chaos, spark arguments, and become annoying across the board. As it turns out, and in a twist suited to a streaming movie, it can even cause the dogs themselves to feel down.
While respecting the emotional well-being of our pets – many owners speak of their deep emotional capacity. To witness a prime example in dog sorrow, consider a past film. I firmly believe that a dog like Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix portrayed 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 works effectively remains rather doubtful.Standard Holiday Fare
To its credit, Merv, the work of its screenwriters and under the guidance of director Swale, doesn't pretend to be more profound than its premise. We have here a Christmas movie from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the complexity is limited. The plot unfolds as uncomplicated: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their post-breakup gloom is surpassed by their dog's, decide on a cheer-up vacation to a canine-centric retreat. Once there, as expected, they will presumably stumble toward the idea that they belong with each other. Ensemble players – including familiar faces – serve as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Its aesthetic carries the feel of a platform's in-house production, with a wintry atmosphere that is clearly manufactured – as seen in flurries piled on green trees as a summer location doubles as the Northeast.
The Canine Charisma
How these predictable parts coalesce into a pleasant experience rests upon the execution and one's taste for cinematic comfort food. On the latter point, Merv hones in on a demographic – those people who browse regularly for cute animal clips. Audiences receive a series of canine-centric sequences. The primary selling point is Merv himself, and though it results in some stilted moments between animal action and the actors' responses, the movie succeeds in showing dog beach fun, canine sorrow, and, ultimately, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Two-Legged Cast
Such effectiveness does not extend for the interpersonal drama. Its style shifts uneasily between serious study, broad humor, formulaic romance, and silly gags, not quite landing any one mode. No blame falls on the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the absurd and awkward inherent in the unusual premise. He brings a endearing lack of ego that supplies a significant portion of the appeal for this on-the-rocks couple. Zooey Deschanel, true to her usual style, brings a distinctive offbeat energy that will either resonate with viewers. Her portrayal can feel a bit too dry, particularly when paired with Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (On another note, Merv himself manages flopping and whining – while no a canine thespian of that caliber, he is still a scene-stealer.)
The story strives to provide depth to the central romance for moments when the dog is absent – a regrettable choice, given that the title character is easily the most adorable aspect of this cute-aiming movie. Expectedly, it meets the bare minimum. The catalyst for their original breakup would feel more grounded and mature with greater exploration and fewer direct statements. As it stands, Merv is slight and sweet, meeting all its marks. Making a film with this canine conflict has potential – but it's not exactly a great one either.
- Merv streams on the Amazon platform this December.
