It is a widely held belief for numerous people that jointly caring for a pet post-separation is ill-advised. Experts frequently claim such arrangements impede ex-partners from moving forward, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and are a nuisance for all parties. Seemingly, as a development fit for a streaming movie, it can even cause the canine in question to become depressed.
Without minimizing the mental health of animals – countless people speak of their remarkable empathy. If you need prime example in canine melancholy, one need only look recent cinema. I firmly believe that a dog such as Merv, a spirited little dog brought to life by the canine actor Gus, would struggle coping with divided living arrangements. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom around this situation holds water seems debatable at best.Predictable Foundations
Honestly, Merv, written by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and helmed by director Swale, makes no grand claims more profound than its premise. It functions as a Christmas movie from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the depth are modest. The narrative is destined to be uncomplicated: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their individual funk is matched by their dog's, embark on a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. Once there, as expected, they will surely stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. The supporting cast – including Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. The film's look carries the feel of a branded content, with a wintry atmosphere that is obviously artificial – as seen in fake snow surrounding green trees as North Carolina doubles as a wintery Boston.
The Canine Charisma
Whether these predictable parts merge into something enjoyable rests upon the actors' work and an acceptance of cinematic comfort food. On the latter point, Merv targets a specific viewer – individuals who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. It provides a plethora of canine-centric sequences. The main attraction is the dog, and though it results in some stilted moments between what the dog does and human reaction, the movie does offer canine party antics, dog depression, and, finally, doggie joy.
The Human Element
This level of success cannot be applied for the interpersonal drama. The tone shifts uneasily between relationship drama, zany antics, standard rom-com beats, and outright slapstick, never fully committing to a single genre. No blame falls on Cox's performance, who is admirably committed the silliness and cringe inherent in the bizarre setting. He brings a likable self-deprecation that supplies a significant portion of the appeal for this on-the-rocks couple. Zooey Deschanel, true to her usual style, injects a certain millennial quirkiness that will either resonate with viewers. The character seems a little too aloof, notably when paired with Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (For what it's worth, Gus the Dog succeeds in acting depressed – he may not be Messi from that acclaimed drama, he is still an excellent dog.)
Merv tries to add substance to the central romance for scenes without their pet – a bit of a pity, given that the dog is easily the best part of this cute-aiming movie. Unsurprisingly, it meets the bare minimum. The reason for their original breakup could have been more adult and realistic with less exposition and less blunt explanation. In the end, Merv is gentle and pleasant, fulfilling every expected note. Crafting a story on this shared-custody premise isn't a bad idea – but it's not exactly a stroke of genius.
- Merv premieres on Amazon Prime Video on December 10th.
