This is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that sharing custody a pet following a split is a recipe for trouble. Experts frequently claim such arrangements hinder ex-partners from finding closure, cause practical headaches, fuel disputes, and are a nuisance for all parties. Seemingly, and in a twist suited to a streaming movie, it can even cause our furry friends to feel down.
While respecting the mental health of animals – countless people attest to their remarkable empathy. If you need prime example in canine melancholy, one need only look another performance. There is little doubt that a dog of Merv's nature, a scruffy terrier type played by the canine actor Gus, would find it difficult coping with divided living arrangements. If this concept a full holiday film on such a setup works effectively is a questionable prospect.Predictable Foundations
To its credit, Merv, the work of its screenwriters and helmed by Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims anything more than its premise. It functions as a seasonal offering from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the depth are modest. The plot unfolds as straightforward: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their own sadness is matched by their dog's, decide on a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. Once there, as expected, they will surely rediscover the idea that they should reunite. Side characters – played by a group of comedic actors – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic is reminiscent of a streaming service original, with a wintry atmosphere that is visibly contrived – think fake snow surrounding green trees as a warm climate doubles as a wintery Boston.
The Canine Charisma
Whether these standard ingredients merge into an entertaining watch depends on the actors' work and one's taste for easy entertainment. On the latter point, Merv knows its audience – those people who seek out for dog videos. Audiences receive a plethora of adorable dog montages. The primary selling point is the dog, and while this leads to some awkward editing between animal action and people's faces, the movie delivers on walking sequences, dog depression, and, in the end, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Human Element
Such effectiveness is not earned for the interpersonal drama. The tone shifts uneasily between emotional depth, zany antics, standard rom-com beats, and outright slapstick, never fully committing to any one mode. No blame falls on Charlie Cox, who is admirably committed the humiliating and funny required by the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a endearing lack of ego that offers much of the film's charm for this ostensibly perfect couple. Her co-star Deschanel, true to her usual style, injects a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. The character can feel a bit too dry, particularly when contrasted against Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (It should be noted, Gus the Dog is convincing at flopping and whining – not quite the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he's definitely a scene-stealer.)
The film attempts to add substance to Anna and Russ's relationship for sequences focusing solely on them – a regrettable choice, considering the dog is undoubtedly the most adorable aspect of this feel-good picture. Unsurprisingly, it just about gets by. The cause for their original breakup would feel more grounded and mature with less exposition and more subtle storytelling. As it stands, Merv is light and sugary, fulfilling all its marks. Creating a movie with this canine conflict is not terrible – though it's hardly a stroke of genius.
- Merv becomes available on the Amazon platform this December.
