It is a widely held belief for numerous people that co-parenting a pet after a breakup is a recipe for trouble. Experts frequently claim such setups impede ex-partners from healing, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and prove frustrating for all parties. As it turns out, and in a twist worthy of a streaming movie, it also makes the canine in question to become depressed.
While respecting the emotional well-being of our pets – countless people observe their deep emotional capacity. To witness a masterclass in dog sorrow, consider another performance. I firmly believe that a dog like Merv, a scruffy terrier type brought to life by a talented dog named Gus, would struggle adapting to life in two homes. If this concept a full holiday film around this situation is sustainable seems rather doubtful.Standard Holiday Fare
Fairness demands noting, Merv, written by the writing duo and helmed by director Swale, doesn't pretend to be deeper than its premise. This is a holiday release from a streaming platform giant – the ambitions are modest. The plot is destined to be simple and direct: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their post-breakup gloom is surpassed by their dog's, embark on a cheer-up vacation to a canine-centric retreat. At this location, predictably, they will surely stumble toward the idea that they belong with each other. Side characters – including familiar faces – serve as the usual assortment of types. The film's look is reminiscent of a platform's in-house production, with a Christmas setting that is clearly manufactured – as seen in obvious snow effects piled on lush pines as North Carolina doubles as a wintery Boston.
The Canine Charisma
How these standard ingredients merge into something enjoyable rests upon the strength of the performances and the viewer's appetite for cinematic comfort food. Regarding the second aspect, Merv targets a specific viewer – individuals who browse regularly for pet content. It provides a series of canine-centric sequences. The primary selling point is Merv himself, and while this leads to some stilted moments between the pet's "lines" and people's faces, the movie delivers on walking sequences, dog depression, and, in the end, doggie joy.
Where It Wobbles
Such effectiveness is not earned for the human side of the story. Its style vacillates between emotional depth, zany antics, predictable love story, and silly gags, failing to master a consistent feel. The fault lies not with Cox's performance, who is willing to embrace the absurd and awkward inherent in the bizarre setting. His performance contains a charming humility that offers a significant portion of the appeal for this on-the-rocks couple. Anna's portrayer, in her typical fashion, injects a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna comes across as a touch too detached, notably when alongside Cox's vulnerable performance. (It should be noted, the canine performer succeeds in acting depressed – he may not be Messi from that acclaimed drama, he's definitely an excellent dog.)
The film attempts to add substance to the central romance for scenes without their pet – a regrettable choice, since the title character is easily the cutest element of this film designed for charm. As one might predict, it achieves only baseline competence. The cause for the split would feel more adult and realistic with less exposition and more subtle storytelling. Ultimately, Merv is light and sugary, fulfilling precisely what you anticipate. Crafting a story on this shared-custody premise has potential – even if it's hardly a great one either.
- Merv becomes available on Amazon Prime Video this December.
