It is a widely held belief for numerous people that sharing custody a pet after a breakup is ill-advised. Experts frequently claim such situations hinder individuals from finding closure, create logistical nightmares, lead to tension, and prove frustrating across the board. Apparently, as a development fit for a streaming movie, it can even cause the canine in question to become depressed.
While respecting the inner life of animals – many owners observe their profound sensitivity. To witness a standout portrayal in pet despair, simply recall a past film. I firmly believe that a dog like Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix played by a talented dog named Gus, would struggle adapting to split households. Whether this premise a feature-length romcom on such a setup is sustainable is a questionable prospect.Standard Holiday Fare
Fairness demands noting, Merv, the work of Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and helmed by director Swale, doesn't pretend to be deeper than its premise. It functions as a Christmas movie from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the ambitions is limited. The narrative proves to be straightforward: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their individual funk is matched by their dog's, decide on a uplifting getaway to a canine-centric retreat. At this location, predictably, they will undoubtedly rediscover the idea that they should reunite. Ensemble players – played by a group of comedic actors – fulfill roles the usual assortment of types. Its aesthetic is reminiscent of a platform's in-house production, with a Christmas setting that is clearly manufactured – think fake snow clinging to verdant foliage as North Carolina doubles as a cold December city.
The Dog's Domain
If these standard ingredients come together into a pleasant experience rests upon the execution and the viewer's appetite for cinematic comfort food. For the comfort factor, Merv knows its audience – individuals who browse regularly for dog videos. Audiences receive a plethora of adorable dog montages. The central draw is the dog, and even if it causes some stilted moments between the pet's "lines" and people's faces, the movie succeeds in showing walking sequences, canine sorrow, and, ultimately, a tail-wagging resolution.
Where It Wobbles
Such effectiveness does not extend for the human side of the story. The film's approach vacillates between emotional depth, wacky comedy, predictable love story, and physical comedy, not quite landing any one mode. This is not Charlie Cox, who is willing to embrace the humiliating and funny required by the bizarre setting. Cox exhibits a charming humility that offers the bulk of the chemistry for this on-the-rocks couple. Anna's portrayer, true to her usual style, imparts a distinctive offbeat energy that will click for some but not others. Her Anna seems a bit too dry, particularly when alongside Cox's vulnerable performance. (It should be noted, Gus the Dog manages acting depressed – he may not be the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he remains an excellent dog.)
Merv tries to provide depth to the couple's history for scenes without their pet – a bit of a pity, since the title character is by far the most adorable aspect of this film designed for charm. As one might predict, it just about gets by. The reason for the split would feel more grounded and mature with less exposition and less blunt explanation. In the end, Merv is gentle and pleasant, meeting every expected note. Creating a movie about dog co-parenting isn't a bad idea – even if I wouldn't call it a stroke of genius.
- Merv becomes available on the Amazon platform on December 10th.
