This is a widely held belief for numerous people that co-parenting a dog following a split is a terrible idea. Most will argue such setups hinder individuals from moving forward, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and prove frustrating for all parties. As it turns out, and in a twist suited to a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to the canine in question to become depressed.
While respecting the inner life of animals – countless people observe their deep emotional capacity. For a standout portrayal in pet despair, simply recall recent cinema. I firmly believe that a dog such as Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix brought to life by the canine actor Gus, would have a hard time adjusting to divided living arrangements. The idea of basing a full holiday film around this situation is sustainable is debatable at best.A Familiar Formula
Honestly, Merv, written by its screenwriters and under the guidance of Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be more profound than its premise. It functions as a Christmas movie from a streaming platform giant – the complexity is limited. Its storyline proves to be straightforward: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their own sadness is surpassed by their dog's, take a therapeutic trip to a canine-centric retreat. At this location, predictably, they will surely rediscover the idea that they should reunite. Ensemble players – including familiar faces – fulfill roles quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually is reminiscent of a streaming service original, with a holiday backdrop that is visibly contrived – exemplified by flurries surrounding green trees as North Carolina substitutes for a wintery Boston.
Where the Film Shines
How these familiar elements merge into something enjoyable rests upon the actors' work and one's taste for easy entertainment. On the latter point, Merv targets a specific viewer – individuals who seek out for cute animal clips. Audiences receive a plethora of scenes focused on the pet. The main attraction is the canine star, and even if it causes some clunky cuts between animal action 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 interpersonal drama. The tone wavers between serious study, broad humor, predictable love story, and silly gags, not quite landing a single genre. This is not Charlie Cox, who is fully game the silliness and cringe demanded of the bizarre setting. He brings a endearing lack of ego that offers much of the film's charm for this seemingly ideal couple. Anna's portrayer, as is her trademark, imparts a particular brand of eccentricity that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal comes across as a touch too detached, particularly when contrasted against Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (On another note, Merv himself succeeds in looking despondent – while no a canine thespian of that caliber, he's definitely a very good boy.)
Merv tries to give weight to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – a regrettable choice, considering the title character is by far the best part of this feel-good picture. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The reason for their original breakup might seem more grounded and mature with more screen time and fewer direct statements. As it stands, Merv is slight and sweet, fulfilling precisely what you anticipate. Making a film on this shared-custody premise isn't a bad idea – even if it's not exactly a great one either.
- Merv premieres on the Amazon platform this December.
