It is a widely held belief in certain circles that sharing custody a canine companion after a breakup is a recipe for trouble. The consensus suggests such arrangements impede individuals from finding closure, create logistical nightmares, fuel disputes, and prove frustrating across the board. As it turns out, in a revelation fit for a streaming movie, it also makes our furry friends to become depressed.
Without minimizing the emotional well-being of dogs – many owners attest to their remarkable empathy. To witness a masterclass in canine melancholy, consider recent cinema. It seems certain that a dog like Merv, a spirited little dog brought to life by the canine actor Gus, would have a hard time coping with split households. If this concept a full holiday film on such a setup holds water seems a questionable prospect.Predictable Foundations
Honestly, Merv, written by the writing duo and directed by Jessica Swale, never aspires to be more profound than its premise. We have here a Christmas movie from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the depth remains surface-level. The plot is destined to be uncomplicated: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their own sadness is surpassed by their dog's, decide on a cheer-up vacation to a dog-friendly resort. Once there, as expected, they will surely stumble toward the idea that they belong with each other. Side characters – featuring familiar faces – serve as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Visually carries the feel of a streaming service original, with a wintry atmosphere that is visibly contrived – as seen in obvious snow effects clinging to lush pines as North Carolina substitutes for a wintery Boston.
The Dog's Domain
Whether these predictable parts coalesce into a pleasant experience depends on the execution and an acceptance of comfort viewing. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who seek out for pet content. It provides a wealth of adorable dog montages. The main attraction is Merv himself, and while this leads to some awkward editing between animal action and human reaction, the movie succeeds in showing dog beach fun, dog depression, and, finally, doggie joy.
Where It Wobbles
The same praise does not extend for the human side of the story. The film's approach vacillates between serious study, wacky comedy, predictable love story, and silly gags, never fully committing to a single genre. This is not Cox's performance, who is fully game the silliness and cringe inherent in the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a endearing lack of ego that offers the bulk of the chemistry for this seemingly ideal couple. Zooey Deschanel, true to her usual style, injects a certain millennial quirkiness that will either resonate with viewers. The character can feel a bit too dry, especially when paired with Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (For what it's worth, the canine performer manages looking despondent – he may not be the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he is still a very good boy.)
The film attempts to provide depth to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – a regrettable choice, since Merv is easily the best part of this cute-aiming movie. Expectedly, it achieves only baseline competence. The reason for their separation might seem more nuanced with greater exploration and less blunt explanation. In the end, Merv is gentle and pleasant, fulfilling precisely what you anticipate. Making a film on this shared-custody premise has potential – but it's hardly a brilliant concept.
- Merv becomes available on the Amazon platform starting December 10.
