It is a widely held belief for numerous people that sharing custody a dog post-separation is a terrible idea. The consensus suggests such setups hinder former couples from healing, create logistical nightmares, spark arguments, and become annoying for everyone involved. Seemingly, as a development worthy of a streaming movie, it also makes the dogs themselves to feel down.
While respecting the mental health of our pets – pet parents observe their deep emotional capacity. To witness a prime example in pet despair, one need only look another performance. It seems certain that a dog of Merv's nature, a spirited little dog brought to life by Gus the Dog, would find it difficult adapting to divided living arrangements. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom on such a setup holds water seems rather doubtful.Standard Holiday Fare
Honestly, Merv, the work of Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and helmed by Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims more profound than a light film. We have here a Christmas movie from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the depth are modest. Its storyline proves to be straightforward: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their individual funk is surpassed by their dog's, decide on a therapeutic trip to a dog-friendly resort. Once there, as expected, they will undoubtedly stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. Ensemble players – played by familiar faces – fulfill roles quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually has the quality of a streaming service original, with a holiday backdrop that is clearly manufactured – think fake snow surrounding verdant foliage as a summer location substitutes for a wintery Boston.
The Canine Charisma
How these familiar elements come together into a pleasant experience hinges on the actors' work and the viewer's appetite for comfort viewing. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who scroll endlessly for pet content. The film delivers a wealth of canine-centric sequences. The main attraction is Merv himself, and though it results in some stilted moments between animal action and people's faces, the movie delivers on dog beach fun, canine sorrow, and, in the end, pure puppy happiness.
Where It Wobbles
This level of success does not extend for the human side of the story. Its style vacillates between relationship drama, zany antics, formulaic romance, and outright slapstick, failing to master a consistent feel. This is not Charlie Cox, who is willing to embrace the absurd and awkward inherent in the unusual premise. His performance contains a endearing lack of ego that supplies the bulk of the chemistry for this seemingly ideal couple. Zooey Deschanel, as is her trademark, injects a particular brand of eccentricity that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal seems a touch too detached, notably when contrasted against Cox's vulnerable performance. (It should be noted, Gus the Dog is convincing at looking despondent – while no Messi from that acclaimed drama, he is still a scene-stealer.)
The film attempts to add substance to the couple's history for scenes without their pet – a regrettable choice, considering Merv is undoubtedly the most adorable aspect of this feel-good picture. Unsurprisingly, it meets the bare minimum. The cause for their separation might seem more adult and realistic with less exposition and more subtle storytelling. In the end, Merv is light and sugary, fulfilling all its marks. Making a film about dog co-parenting is not terrible – but it's hardly a stroke of genius.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video this December.
