This is a widely held belief among many that sharing custody a dog following a split is a terrible idea. Most will argue such arrangements prevent former couples from moving forward, cause practical headaches, fuel disputes, and become annoying across the board. Seemingly, and in a twist worthy of a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to our furry friends to feel down.
Without minimizing the inner life of our pets – pet parents speak of their profound sensitivity. To witness a prime example in canine melancholy, consider another performance. There is little doubt that a dog such as Merv, a scruffy terrier type played by the canine actor Gus, would have a hard time coping with divided living arrangements. If this concept a full holiday film on such a setup is sustainable is debatable at best.Predictable Foundations
To its credit, Merv, crafted by the writing duo and under the guidance of Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims deeper than what it is. It functions as a holiday release from a streaming platform giant – the depth are modest. Its storyline is destined to be straightforward: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their post-breakup gloom is surpassed by their dog's, take a uplifting getaway to a canine-centric retreat. There, inevitably, they will surely stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. Side characters – including familiar faces – serve as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Visually is reminiscent of a streaming service original, with a Christmas setting that is visibly contrived – exemplified by obvious snow effects clinging to lush pines as a warm climate doubles as a wintery Boston.
The Canine Charisma
Whether these familiar elements come together into a pleasant experience rests upon the execution and an acceptance of cinematic comfort food. For the comfort factor, Merv hones in on a demographic – the kind who seek out for cute animal clips. The film delivers a plethora of scenes focused on the pet. The primary selling point is Merv himself, and while this leads to some clunky cuts between animal action and human reaction, the movie does offer walking sequences, canine sorrow, and, finally, doggie joy.
The Two-Legged Cast
This level of success cannot be applied for the human side of the story. The film's approach wavers between serious study, wacky comedy, predictable love story, and physical comedy, failing to master a consistent feel. The fault lies not with Charlie Cox, who is willing to embrace the humiliating and funny inherent in the unusual premise. Cox exhibits a endearing lack of ego that provides a significant portion of the appeal for this seemingly ideal couple. Her co-star Deschanel, true to her usual style, injects a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal seems a touch too detached, particularly when paired with Cox's genuine sadness. (It should be noted, Merv himself succeeds in flopping and whining – he may not be Messi from that acclaimed drama, he remains a scene-stealer.)
The story strives to add substance to Anna and Russ's relationship for scenes without their pet – a regrettable choice, since the dog is easily the cutest element of this cute-aiming movie. As one might predict, it achieves only baseline competence. The reason for their original breakup would feel more adult and realistic with less exposition and more subtle storytelling. As it stands, Merv is light and sugary, fulfilling every expected note. Making a film with this canine conflict is not terrible – even if it's not exactly a brilliant concept.
- Merv becomes available on the Amazon platform this December.
