It is a widely held belief among many that co-parenting a pet post-separation is a terrible idea. Experts frequently claim such setups hinder former couples from finding closure, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and become annoying for everyone involved. Apparently, in a revelation suited to a streaming movie, it also makes the canine in question to feel down.
While respecting the mental health of our pets – countless people speak of their remarkable empathy. If you need prime example in pet despair, consider another performance. It seems certain that a dog of Merv's nature, a scruffy terrier type brought to life by a talented dog named Gus, would have a hard time coping with life in two homes. If this concept a feature-length romcom on this conflict is sustainable is rather doubtful.Predictable Foundations
Honestly, Merv, written by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and under the guidance of Jessica Swale, never aspires to be more profound than a light film. This is a Christmas movie from a corporate studio – the depth is limited. The narrative is destined to be simple and direct: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their individual funk is rivaled only by their dog's, decide on a therapeutic trip to a canine-centric retreat. At this location, predictably, they will presumably realize the idea that they are better together. Side characters – featuring familiar faces – serve as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Visually is reminiscent of a streaming service original, with a Christmas setting that is obviously artificial – think fake snow surrounding green trees as a summer location doubles as a cold December city.
The Canine Charisma
If these standard ingredients come together into an entertaining watch rests upon the strength of the performances and the viewer's appetite for cinematic comfort food. For the comfort factor, Merv knows its audience – the kind who scroll endlessly for dog videos. Audiences receive a series of canine-centric sequences. The main attraction is the canine star, and even if it causes some clunky cuts between what the dog does and people's faces, the movie does offer walking sequences, dog depression, and, finally, doggie joy.
Where It Wobbles
This level of success does not extend for the interpersonal drama. Its style wavers between emotional depth, zany antics, standard rom-com beats, and physical comedy, not quite landing a single genre. The fault lies not with Cox's performance, who is fully game the absurd and awkward inherent in the bizarre setting. Cox exhibits a endearing lack of ego that provides much of the film's charm for this on-the-rocks couple. Zooey Deschanel, as is her trademark, imparts a particular brand of eccentricity that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal comes across as a bit too dry, particularly when alongside Cox's vulnerable performance. (For what it's worth, Merv himself manages acting depressed – while no Messi from that acclaimed drama, he is still a very good boy.)
The story strives to give weight to the central romance for sequences focusing solely on them – a bit of a pity, since the dog is undoubtedly the cutest element of this film designed for charm. Unsurprisingly, it meets the bare minimum. The cause for their separation could have been more grounded and mature with more screen time and less blunt explanation. As it stands, Merv is light and sugary, hitting precisely what you anticipate. Creating a movie about dog co-parenting is not terrible – though it's not exactly a great one either.
- Merv streams on Prime Video on December 10th.
