It is a widely held belief for numerous people that jointly caring for a dog post-separation is a terrible idea. The consensus suggests such setups hinder former couples from healing, create logistical nightmares, fuel disputes, and become annoying for all parties. Apparently, as a development fit for a streaming movie, it can even cause the canine in question to become depressed.
While respecting the mental health of dogs – countless people speak of their profound sensitivity. To witness a standout portrayal in canine melancholy, one need only look another performance. It seems certain that a dog of Merv's nature, a spirited little dog played by Gus the Dog, would have a hard time coping with split households. The idea of basing a full holiday film around this situation works effectively remains rather doubtful.Predictable Foundations
To its credit, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and under the guidance of playwright Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be deeper than a light film. It functions as a seasonal offering from a corporate studio – the depth are modest. The narrative unfolds as uncomplicated: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their own sadness is matched by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a dog-friendly resort. Once there, as expected, they will presumably rediscover the idea that they should reunite. The supporting cast – including Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – serve as the usual assortment of types. Its aesthetic has the quality of a branded content, with a holiday backdrop that is clearly manufactured – think flurries clinging to green trees as a summer location substitutes for the Northeast.
Where the Film Shines
Whether these standard ingredients merge into an entertaining watch hinges on the actors' work and the viewer's appetite for easy entertainment. On the latter point, Merv hones in on a demographic – those people who scroll endlessly for dog videos. The film delivers a plethora of scenes focused on the pet. The central draw is the dog, and even if it causes some clunky cuts between animal action and people's faces, the movie does offer canine party antics, dog depression, and, ultimately, pure puppy happiness.
Where It Wobbles
This level of success does not extend for the human side of the story. The tone vacillates between relationship drama, broad humor, predictable love story, and physical comedy, failing to master a consistent feel. The fault lies not with the actor playing Russ, who is admirably committed the absurd and awkward demanded of the bizarre setting. His performance contains a likable self-deprecation that supplies a significant portion of the appeal for this seemingly ideal couple. Her co-star Deschanel, as is her trademark, injects a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal seems a little too aloof, especially when contrasted against Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (On another note, Gus the Dog is convincing at acting depressed – he may not be a canine thespian of that caliber, he remains a scene-stealer.)
The film attempts to give weight to the couple's history for scenes without their pet – which is unfortunate, since the title character is easily the cutest element of this feel-good picture. Expectedly, it meets the bare minimum. The reason for their separation might seem more nuanced with more screen time and fewer direct statements. In the end, Merv is light and sugary, hitting all its marks. Making a film about dog co-parenting has potential – though I wouldn't call it a stroke of genius.
- Merv premieres on the Amazon platform this December.
