This is an often-repeated piece of advice in certain circles that sharing custody a dog post-separation is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such situations prevent individuals from moving forward, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and prove frustrating across the board. As it turns out, as a development fit for a streaming movie, it also makes our furry friends to feel down.
Not to downplay the mental health of animals – many owners attest to their profound sensitivity. To witness a prime example in dog sorrow, simply recall recent cinema. I firmly believe that a dog like Merv, a spirited little dog brought to life by the canine actor Gus, would find it difficult adapting to split households. The idea of basing a full holiday film around this situation works effectively remains debatable at best.Predictable Foundations
Honestly, Merv, crafted by the writing duo and helmed by director Swale, never aspires to be deeper than its premise. It functions as a holiday release from a streaming platform giant – the depth is limited. The narrative proves to be uncomplicated: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their individual funk is matched by their dog's, decide on a cheer-up vacation to a canine-centric retreat. At this location, predictably, they will presumably stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. Side characters – including a group of comedic actors – are crafted as the usual assortment of types. The film's look is reminiscent of a branded content, with a wintry atmosphere that is visibly contrived – exemplified by obvious snow effects clinging to lush pines as a summer location doubles as a wintery Boston.
The Dog's Domain
Whether these standard ingredients merge into a pleasant experience rests upon the execution and the viewer's appetite for cinematic comfort food. Regarding the second aspect, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who scroll endlessly for dog videos. The film delivers a series of scenes focused on the pet. The primary selling point is Merv himself, and while this leads to some awkward editing between the pet's "lines" and human reaction, the movie succeeds in showing dog beach fun, pet moping, and, finally, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Two-Legged Cast
Such effectiveness is not earned for the interpersonal drama. Its style wavers between emotional depth, zany antics, formulaic romance, and silly gags, failing to master a consistent feel. This is not Cox's performance, who is willing to embrace the silliness and cringe demanded of the bizarre setting. Cox exhibits a charming humility that offers the bulk of the chemistry for this on-the-rocks couple. Zooey Deschanel, in her typical fashion, injects a certain millennial quirkiness that will click for some but not others. Her portrayal can feel a bit too dry, notably when contrasted against Cox's genuine sadness. (It should be noted, the canine performer is convincing at acting depressed – not quite the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he's definitely a very good boy.)
The film attempts to add substance to the couple's history for moments when the dog is absent – a regrettable choice, given that the dog is undoubtedly the most adorable aspect of this feel-good picture. As one might predict, it just about gets by. The catalyst for their original breakup would feel more nuanced with greater exploration and more subtle storytelling. Ultimately, Merv is gentle and pleasant, hitting precisely what you anticipate. Creating a movie with this canine conflict isn't a bad idea – even if I wouldn't call it a brilliant concept.
- Merv premieres on Amazon Prime Video this December.
