This is a widely held belief for numerous people that co-parenting a pet after a breakup is a terrible idea. Most will argue such setups hinder ex-partners from moving forward, create logistical nightmares, fuel disputes, and are a nuisance for all parties. As it turns out, and in a twist worthy of a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to the dogs themselves to become depressed.
While respecting the emotional well-being of our pets – many owners observe their profound sensitivity. For a standout portrayal in pet despair, one need only look a past film. It seems certain that a dog such as Merv, a spirited little dog brought to life by Gus the Dog, would have a hard time coping with divided living arrangements. Whether this premise a full holiday film around this situation works effectively is debatable at best.Standard Holiday Fare
Fairness demands noting, Merv, written by its screenwriters and directed by director Swale, doesn't pretend to be deeper than what it is. This is a Christmas movie from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the ambitions is limited. The plot unfolds as simple and direct: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their own sadness is rivaled only by their dog's, take a therapeutic trip to a luxury pet hotel. At this location, predictably, they will undoubtedly stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. The supporting cast – including Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – fulfill roles quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. The film's look has the quality of a streaming service original, with a wintry atmosphere that is obviously artificial – exemplified by obvious snow effects piled on green trees as North Carolina substitutes for the Northeast.
The Canine Charisma
Whether these predictable parts merge into something enjoyable hinges on the execution and the viewer's appetite for cinematic comfort food. On the latter point, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who seek out for dog videos. It provides a wealth of scenes focused on the pet. The primary selling point is the dog, and though it results in some awkward editing between animal action and people's faces, the movie delivers on canine party antics, pet moping, and, ultimately, doggie joy.
The Two-Legged Cast
Such effectiveness cannot be applied for the romantic plot. The tone vacillates between relationship drama, broad humor, standard rom-com beats, and outright slapstick, failing to master any one mode. This is not Cox's performance, who is fully game the humiliating and funny required by the unusual premise. Cox exhibits a endearing lack of ego that offers much of the film's charm for this seemingly ideal couple. Zooey Deschanel, as is her trademark, injects a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna can feel a bit too dry, particularly when alongside Cox's genuine sadness. (It should be noted, the canine performer succeeds in acting depressed – while no a canine thespian of that caliber, he is still a very good boy.)
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 best part of this film designed for charm. As one might predict, it achieves only baseline competence. The reason for their original breakup might seem more adult and realistic with greater exploration and more subtle storytelling. Ultimately, Merv is light and sugary, fulfilling precisely what you anticipate. Crafting a story on this shared-custody premise is not terrible – though I wouldn't call it a brilliant concept.
- Merv premieres on Prime Video this December.
