This is a common warning for numerous people that jointly caring for a pet following a split is a terrible idea. The consensus suggests such arrangements prevent former couples from healing, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and become annoying for everyone involved. Seemingly, as a development suited to a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause the canine in question to feel down.
While respecting the inner life of animals – countless people observe their deep emotional capacity. If you need standout portrayal in pet despair, one need only look a past film. I firmly believe that a dog like Merv, a scruffy terrier type portrayed by Gus the Dog, would have a hard time coping with life in two homes. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom around this situation holds water is a questionable prospect.Standard Holiday Fare
Honestly, Merv, written by its screenwriters and directed by Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be deeper than a light film. This is a holiday release from a corporate studio – the ambitions is limited. Its storyline proves to be straightforward: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their individual funk is matched by their dog's, take a therapeutic trip to a dog-friendly resort. There, inevitably, they will surely realize the idea that they are better together. The supporting cast – featuring familiar faces – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually has the quality of a platform's in-house production, with a Christmas setting that is clearly manufactured – as seen in flurries surrounding lush pines as a warm climate stands in for a cold December city.
The Dog's Domain
Whether these predictable parts come together into an entertaining watch depends on the strength of the performances and the viewer's appetite for easy entertainment. Regarding the second aspect, Merv knows its audience – individuals who seek out for dog videos. The film delivers a wealth of adorable dog montages. The primary selling point is the canine star, and even if it causes some awkward editing between what the dog does and human reaction, the movie succeeds in showing canine party antics, pet moping, and, ultimately, doggie joy.
Where It Wobbles
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 physical comedy, not quite landing a consistent feel. The fault lies not with Charlie Cox, who is willing to embrace the silliness and cringe required by the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a endearing lack of ego that offers a significant portion of the appeal for this seemingly ideal couple. Zooey Deschanel, true to her usual style, brings a particular brand of eccentricity that will click for some but not others. Her portrayal comes across as a touch too detached, especially when contrasted against Cox's genuine sadness. (It should be noted, Gus the Dog is convincing at flopping and whining – he may not be the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he's definitely a very good boy.)
The story strives to give weight to Anna and Russ's relationship for moments when the dog is absent – a bit of a pity, since the title character is easily the best part of this cute-aiming movie. As one might predict, it just about gets by. The cause for their separation might seem more nuanced with more screen time and less blunt explanation. Ultimately, Merv is gentle and pleasant, fulfilling all its marks. Making a film with this canine conflict has potential – even if it's hardly a stroke of genius.
- Merv becomes available on Prime Video on December 10th.
