This is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that sharing custody a pet post-separation is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such situations impede former couples from finding closure, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and prove frustrating across the board. As it turns out, as a development suited to a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause the canine in question to become depressed.
Without minimizing the mental health of dogs – countless people speak of their deep emotional capacity. To witness a prime example in dog sorrow, one need only look recent cinema. There is little doubt that a dog such as Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix played by a talented dog named Gus, would have a hard time adapting to divided living arrangements. Whether this premise a full holiday film on such a setup works effectively is rather doubtful.Predictable Foundations
Honestly, Merv, crafted by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and helmed by Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be more profound than its premise. We have here a holiday release from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the complexity are modest. The plot is destined to be simple and direct: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their individual funk is surpassed by their dog's, decide on a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. There, inevitably, they will surely realize the idea that they are better together. The supporting cast – including familiar faces – fulfill roles the usual assortment of types. The film's look has the quality of a streaming service original, with a holiday backdrop that is obviously artificial – think obvious snow effects piled on verdant foliage as a summer location doubles as a cold December city.
Where the Film Shines
If these predictable parts come together into something enjoyable depends on the execution and one's taste for comfort viewing. Regarding the second aspect, Merv knows its audience – those people who scroll endlessly for pet content. Audiences receive a wealth of adorable dog montages. The primary selling point is Merv himself, and even if it causes some clunky cuts between what the dog does and people's faces, the movie delivers on canine party antics, dog depression, and, in the end, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Two-Legged Cast
The same praise cannot be applied for the interpersonal drama. The film's approach vacillates between serious study, zany antics, formulaic romance, and outright slapstick, not quite landing a single genre. This is not Charlie Cox, who is fully game the silliness and cringe inherent in the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a likable self-deprecation that offers a significant portion of the appeal for this seemingly ideal couple. Zooey Deschanel, in her typical fashion, injects a particular brand of eccentricity that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal comes across as a bit too dry, notably when paired with Cox's genuine sadness. (It should be noted, Gus the Dog manages 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 central romance for sequences focusing solely on them – a bit of a pity, considering the title character is by far the most adorable aspect of this cute-aiming movie. Expectedly, it achieves only baseline competence. The reason for their original breakup could have been more adult and realistic with less exposition and fewer direct statements. In the end, Merv is gentle and pleasant, hitting every expected note. Creating a movie about dog co-parenting isn't a bad idea – though I wouldn't call it a stroke of genius.
- Merv becomes available on the Amazon platform starting December 10.
