This is a widely held belief among many that jointly caring for a canine companion following a split is ill-advised. Experts frequently claim such arrangements impede individuals from moving forward, create logistical nightmares, lead to tension, and are a nuisance for all parties. Seemingly, in a revelation fit for a direct-to-platform film, it also makes the canine in question to become depressed.
While respecting the inner life of animals – pet parents attest to their remarkable empathy. To witness a standout portrayal in pet despair, one need only look recent cinema. There is little doubt that a dog like Merv, a spirited little dog portrayed by Gus the Dog, would have a hard time coping with divided living arrangements. The idea of basing a full holiday film on such a setup is sustainable seems rather doubtful.Standard Holiday Fare
Honestly, Merv, crafted by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and under the guidance of director Swale, makes no grand claims anything more than a light film. It functions as a Christmas movie from a streaming platform giant – the complexity is limited. The narrative proves to be straightforward: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their own sadness is rivaled only by their dog's, embark on a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. At this location, predictably, they will undoubtedly rediscover the idea that they belong with each other. The supporting cast – featuring Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – fulfill roles quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. The film's look carries the feel of a streaming service original, with a wintry atmosphere that is clearly manufactured – as seen in obvious snow effects surrounding green trees as a warm climate stands in for a wintery Boston.
The Dog's Domain
How these standard ingredients coalesce into an entertaining watch hinges on the actors' work and the viewer's appetite for cinematic comfort food. For the comfort factor, Merv hones in on a demographic – the kind who browse regularly for cute animal clips. The film delivers a wealth of canine-centric sequences. The main attraction is Merv himself, and though it results in some stilted moments between what the dog does and the actors' responses, the movie does offer dog beach fun, dog depression, and, in the end, doggie joy.
Where It Wobbles
Such effectiveness does not extend for the human side of the story. The film's approach wavers between serious study, wacky comedy, formulaic romance, and physical comedy, never fully committing to a single genre. This is not Cox's performance, who is fully game the silliness and cringe required by the dog resort scenario. Cox exhibits a likable self-deprecation that supplies the bulk of the chemistry for this ostensibly perfect couple. Zooey Deschanel, in her typical fashion, brings a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal comes across as a bit too dry, particularly when paired with Cox's genuine sadness. (For what it's worth, Gus the Dog manages looking despondent – while no Messi from that acclaimed drama, he is still a very good boy.)
The story strives to give weight to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – a regrettable choice, considering the title character is undoubtedly the cutest element of this feel-good picture. Unsurprisingly, it just about gets by. The reason for the split might seem more adult and realistic with greater exploration and fewer direct statements. Ultimately, Merv is slight and sweet, meeting all its marks. Creating a movie about dog co-parenting is not terrible – even if it's hardly a great one either.
- Merv premieres on the Amazon platform on December 10th.
