This is a widely held belief for numerous people that sharing custody a dog post-separation is a terrible idea. Experts frequently claim such situations impede ex-partners from healing, create logistical nightmares, lead to tension, and become annoying across the board. As it turns out, as a development suited to a streaming movie, it also makes our furry friends to become depressed.
Without minimizing the inner life of animals – pet parents observe their deep emotional capacity. For a prime example in canine melancholy, consider another performance. There is little doubt that a dog of Merv's nature, a scruffy terrier type brought to life by Gus the Dog, would struggle adjusting to split households. The idea of basing an entire Christmas romance on this conflict is sustainable remains a questionable prospect.Predictable Foundations
Honestly, Merv, the work of the writing duo and directed by director Swale, makes no grand claims more profound than its premise. This is a seasonal offering from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the depth are modest. The narrative unfolds as straightforward: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their post-breakup gloom is rivaled only by their dog's, embark on a cheer-up vacation to a dog-friendly resort. There, inevitably, they will surely rediscover the idea that they should reunite. Ensemble players – featuring a group of comedic actors – fulfill roles the usual assortment of types. Its aesthetic is reminiscent of a streaming service original, with a holiday backdrop that is obviously artificial – as seen in fake snow piled on lush pines as a warm climate doubles as a wintery Boston.
The Canine Charisma
How these standard ingredients merge into something enjoyable depends on the execution and one's taste for easy entertainment. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who scroll endlessly for pet content. It provides a wealth of scenes focused on the pet. The main attraction is the canine star, and while this leads to some clunky cuts between the pet's "lines" and the actors' responses, the movie delivers on dog beach fun, dog depression, and, finally, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Two-Legged Cast
The same praise does not extend for the human side of the story. The film's approach wavers between emotional depth, broad humor, predictable love story, and outright slapstick, failing to master any one mode. No blame falls on Cox's performance, who is fully game the absurd and awkward inherent in the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a charming humility that provides a significant portion of the appeal for this ostensibly perfect couple. Zooey Deschanel, true to her usual style, imparts a particular brand of eccentricity that will click for some but not others. Her Anna seems a little too aloof, notably when paired with Cox's vulnerable performance. (On another note, Gus the Dog is convincing at looking despondent – he may not be Messi from that acclaimed drama, he is still an excellent dog.)
The story strives to add substance to the couple's history for scenes without their pet – a regrettable choice, considering the dog is undoubtedly the most adorable aspect of this film designed for charm. As one might predict, it just about gets by. The cause for the split could have been more nuanced with less exposition and fewer direct statements. As it stands, Merv is slight and sweet, fulfilling precisely what you anticipate. Creating a movie on this shared-custody premise isn't a bad idea – even if I wouldn't call it a brilliant concept.
- Merv premieres on the Amazon platform this December.
