This is an often-repeated piece of advice among many that co-parenting a canine companion following a split is a recipe for trouble. Most will argue such setups hinder former couples from moving forward, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and prove frustrating for all parties. Seemingly, in a revelation fit for a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to the dogs themselves to become depressed.
Without minimizing the inner life of dogs – countless people speak of their remarkable empathy. If you need standout portrayal in pet despair, simply recall a past film. It seems certain that a dog such as Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix portrayed by the canine actor Gus, would find it difficult coping with divided living arrangements. The idea of basing a full holiday film around this situation is sustainable seems a questionable prospect.Predictable Foundations
To its credit, Merv, the work of Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and directed by Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be more profound than what it is. This is a seasonal offering from a corporate studio – the depth are modest. Its storyline proves to be uncomplicated: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their own sadness is matched by their dog's, embark on a cheer-up vacation to a canine-centric retreat. At this location, predictably, they will presumably realize the idea that they belong with each other. The supporting cast – featuring familiar faces – fulfill roles eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. The film's look has the quality of a branded content, with a holiday backdrop that is obviously artificial – think fake snow clinging to lush pines as North Carolina stands in for a wintery Boston.
The Canine Charisma
How these familiar elements coalesce into an entertaining watch rests upon the strength of the performances and one's taste for easy entertainment. Regarding the second aspect, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who seek out for cute animal clips. The film delivers a plethora of adorable dog montages. The central draw is Merv himself, and though it results in some stilted moments between what the dog does and human reaction, the movie delivers on canine party antics, dog depression, and, ultimately, doggie joy.
Where It Wobbles
This level of success is not earned for the romantic plot. The tone vacillates between emotional depth, wacky comedy, formulaic romance, and physical comedy, failing to master any one mode. No blame falls on the actor playing Russ, who is admirably committed the humiliating and funny demanded of the dog resort scenario. Cox exhibits a endearing lack of ego that provides the bulk of the chemistry for this on-the-rocks couple. Zooey Deschanel, as is her trademark, imparts a particular brand of eccentricity that will click for some but not others. Her Anna comes across as a little too aloof, especially when paired with Cox's genuine sadness. (For what it's worth, the canine performer manages acting depressed – not quite Messi from that acclaimed drama, he remains a scene-stealer.)
Merv tries to give weight to Anna and Russ's relationship for scenes without their pet – a bit of a pity, since Merv is easily the most adorable aspect of this film designed for charm. As one might predict, it just about gets by. The reason for their separation would feel more nuanced with less exposition and less blunt explanation. Ultimately, Merv is slight and sweet, hitting precisely what you anticipate. Crafting a story with this canine conflict isn't a bad idea – though it's not exactly a stroke of genius.
- Merv streams on Prime Video starting December 10.
