It is a common warning for numerous people that sharing custody a canine companion after a breakup is a terrible idea. Most will argue such situations hinder former couples from moving forward, cause practical headaches, fuel disputes, and prove frustrating for everyone involved. As it turns out, as a development worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to our furry friends to become depressed.
While respecting the inner life of animals – pet parents attest to their deep emotional capacity. For a masterclass in pet despair, consider another performance. It seems certain that a dog of Merv's nature, a scruffy terrier type brought to life by a talented dog named Gus, would have a hard time adjusting to life in two homes. If this concept a full holiday film on this conflict works effectively is a questionable prospect.Predictable Foundations
Fairness demands noting, Merv, the work of its screenwriters and directed by director Swale, doesn't pretend to be deeper than a light film. We have here a seasonal offering from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the complexity is limited. The narrative is destined to be uncomplicated: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their own sadness is rivaled only by their dog's, decide on a cheer-up vacation to a canine-centric retreat. At this location, predictably, they will surely rediscover the idea that they are better together. Ensemble players – including familiar faces – serve as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Visually has the quality of a branded content, with a wintry atmosphere that is obviously artificial – as seen in fake snow surrounding lush pines as a warm climate doubles as a wintery Boston.
The Canine Charisma
Whether these standard ingredients coalesce into a pleasant experience depends on the execution and the viewer's appetite for comfort viewing. Regarding the second aspect, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who browse regularly for dog videos. The film delivers a wealth of adorable dog montages. The main attraction is the canine star, and though it results in some awkward editing between what the dog does and the actors' responses, the movie succeeds in showing walking sequences, canine sorrow, and, finally, pure puppy happiness.
The Two-Legged Cast
This level of success is not earned for the interpersonal drama. The tone shifts uneasily between emotional depth, broad humor, formulaic romance, and physical comedy, not quite landing a consistent feel. The fault lies not with the actor playing Russ, who is willing to embrace the silliness and cringe required by the bizarre setting. He brings a likable self-deprecation that offers a significant portion of the appeal for this on-the-rocks couple. Her co-star Deschanel, true to her usual style, brings a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna can feel a bit too dry, notably when paired with Cox's genuine sadness. (On another note, the canine performer succeeds in flopping and whining – he may not be a canine thespian of that caliber, he remains a scene-stealer.)
The film attempts to add substance to the couple's history for scenes without their pet – which is unfortunate, given that the title character is by far the cutest element of this cute-aiming movie. Expectedly, it achieves only baseline competence. The cause for the split might seem more adult and realistic with more screen time and fewer direct statements. As it stands, Merv is light and sugary, hitting every expected note. Making a film with this canine conflict is not terrible – but it's hardly a great one either.
- Merv becomes available on Amazon Prime Video starting December 10.
