This is a widely held belief in certain circles that sharing custody a pet post-separation is a terrible idea. Experts frequently claim such situations hinder individuals from moving forward, lead to scheduling chaos, lead to tension, and prove frustrating across the board. As it turns out, as a development fit for a streaming movie, it can even cause the canine in question to feel down.
Not to downplay the mental health of dogs – pet parents speak of their profound sensitivity. To witness a standout portrayal in pet despair, one need only look recent cinema. There is little doubt that a dog such as Merv, a scruffy terrier type portrayed by the canine actor Gus, would have a hard time adapting to split households. If this concept a full holiday film around this situation is sustainable remains a questionable prospect.A Familiar Formula
To its credit, Merv, the work of its screenwriters and under the guidance of playwright Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims deeper than its premise. We have here a Christmas movie from a streaming platform giant – the ambitions remains surface-level. The plot unfolds as simple and direct: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their post-breakup gloom is rivaled only by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. At this location, predictably, they will surely rediscover the idea that they should reunite. Side characters – played by Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – are crafted as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. The film's look carries the feel of a streaming service original, with a holiday backdrop that is obviously artificial – think obvious snow effects clinging to verdant foliage as North Carolina substitutes for the Northeast.
The Canine Charisma
Whether these standard ingredients come together into a pleasant experience depends on the actors' work and the viewer's appetite for comfort viewing. On the latter point, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who seek out for dog videos. It provides a series of adorable dog montages. The main attraction is Merv himself, and though it results in some clunky cuts between what the dog does and human reaction, the movie delivers on walking sequences, pet moping, and, in the end, doggie joy.
The Two-Legged Cast
This level of success is not earned for the interpersonal drama. Its style vacillates between relationship drama, wacky comedy, standard rom-com beats, and silly gags, not quite landing a single genre. No blame falls on Charlie Cox, who is admirably committed the silliness and cringe required by the unusual premise. Cox exhibits a endearing lack of ego that provides a significant portion of the appeal for this seemingly ideal couple. Zooey Deschanel, true to her usual style, brings a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal seems a little too aloof, especially when contrasted against Cox's vulnerable performance. (It should be noted, Gus the Dog succeeds in flopping and whining – while no a canine thespian of that caliber, he's definitely an excellent dog.)
Merv tries to provide depth to Anna and Russ's relationship for sequences focusing solely on them – a bit of a pity, since the title character is undoubtedly the best part of this cute-aiming movie. Unsurprisingly, it meets the bare minimum. The reason for their separation would feel more adult and realistic with more screen time and fewer direct statements. Ultimately, Merv is gentle and pleasant, fulfilling precisely what you anticipate. Making a film with this canine conflict has potential – but it's hardly a brilliant concept.
- Merv premieres on Amazon Prime Video on December 10th.
