This is a widely held belief in certain circles that sharing custody a pet after a breakup is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such setups impede individuals from healing, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and are a nuisance for all parties. Seemingly, as a development worthy of a streaming movie, it can even cause the dogs themselves to experience sadness.
While respecting the emotional well-being of animals – countless people attest to their deep emotional capacity. To witness a standout portrayal in pet despair, one need only look a past film. I firmly believe that a dog like Merv, a scruffy terrier type brought to life by a talented dog named Gus, would find it difficult adapting to divided living arrangements. Whether this premise a full holiday film on this conflict holds water seems debatable at best.Standard Holiday Fare
To its credit, Merv, the work of the writing duo and helmed by director Swale, doesn't pretend to be anything more than what it is. It functions as a Christmas movie from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the depth is limited. The narrative unfolds as uncomplicated: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their own sadness is matched by their dog's, decide on a cheer-up vacation to a dog-friendly resort. At this location, predictably, they will presumably realize the idea that they belong with each other. Ensemble players – played by a group of comedic actors – 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 – exemplified by flurries clinging to lush pines as North Carolina stands in for the Northeast.
Where the Film Shines
Whether these familiar elements come together into a pleasant experience depends on the actors' work and one's taste for cinematic comfort food. Regarding the second aspect, Merv knows its audience – those people who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. The film delivers a series of canine-centric sequences. The central draw is the dog, and even if it causes some stilted moments between animal action and the actors' responses, the movie succeeds in showing canine party antics, pet moping, and, ultimately, doggie joy.
The Two-Legged Cast
The same praise is not earned for the interpersonal drama. The film's approach vacillates between serious study, zany antics, predictable love story, and physical comedy, not quite landing a single genre. This is not Charlie Cox, who is admirably committed the absurd and awkward inherent in the bizarre setting. He brings a endearing lack of ego that supplies a significant portion of the appeal 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 seems a bit too dry, especially when paired with Cox's genuine sadness. (On another note, Merv himself succeeds in flopping and whining – not quite Messi from that acclaimed drama, he's definitely an excellent dog.)
The film attempts to provide depth to the couple's history for scenes without their pet – a regrettable choice, since Merv is by far the cutest element of this cute-aiming movie. As one might predict, it meets the bare minimum. The catalyst for the split could have been more nuanced with more screen time and fewer direct statements. In the end, Merv is light and sugary, hitting all its marks. Crafting a story about dog co-parenting isn't a bad idea – even if I wouldn't call it a stroke of genius.
- Merv becomes available on Prime Video starting December 10.
