It is a widely held belief among many that co-parenting a pet following a split is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such setups hinder individuals from healing, create logistical nightmares, lead to tension, and become annoying across the board. As it turns out, in a revelation suited to a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause the dogs themselves to become depressed.
Without minimizing the emotional well-being of animals – many owners speak of their deep emotional capacity. If you need prime example in pet despair, consider a past film. There is little doubt that a dog like Merv, a spirited little dog portrayed by the canine actor Gus, would struggle adjusting to split households. The idea of basing an entire Christmas romance on such a setup is sustainable seems debatable at best.Standard Holiday Fare
Fairness demands noting, Merv, written by the writing duo and under the guidance of Jessica Swale, never aspires to be more profound than what it is. We have here a holiday release from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the ambitions is limited. Its storyline unfolds as uncomplicated: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their individual funk is rivaled only by their dog's, embark on a uplifting getaway to a dog-friendly resort. Once there, as expected, they will undoubtedly realize the idea that they are better together. Ensemble players – featuring familiar faces – fulfill roles quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually has the quality of a branded content, with a Christmas setting that is obviously artificial – exemplified by fake snow piled on lush pines as a warm climate stands in for the Northeast.
Where the Film Shines
How these standard ingredients coalesce into a pleasant experience rests upon the execution and an acceptance of easy entertainment. On the latter point, Merv knows its audience – individuals who seek out for pet content. It provides a plethora of scenes focused on the pet. The main attraction is Merv himself, and though it results in some awkward editing between what the dog does and people's faces, the movie does offer walking sequences, canine sorrow, and, ultimately, pure puppy happiness.
The Human Element
This level of success does not extend for the human side of the story. The film's approach wavers between emotional depth, zany antics, formulaic romance, and outright slapstick, failing to master any one mode. No blame falls on Cox's performance, who is fully game the silliness and cringe required by the bizarre setting. Cox exhibits a endearing lack of ego that supplies the bulk of the chemistry for this ostensibly perfect couple. Zooey Deschanel, in her typical fashion, imparts a distinctive offbeat energy that will either resonate with viewers. The character comes across as a touch too detached, especially when contrasted against Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (It should be noted, the canine performer manages acting depressed – not quite the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he remains a scene-stealer.)
The story strives to add substance to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – a regrettable choice, considering Merv is easily the cutest element of this feel-good picture. As one might predict, it meets the bare minimum. The cause for their original breakup would feel more grounded and mature with more screen time and more subtle storytelling. In the end, Merv is gentle and pleasant, fulfilling precisely what you anticipate. Creating a movie on this shared-custody premise is not terrible – even if it's hardly a great one either.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video on December 10th.
