This is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that jointly caring for a dog post-separation is a terrible idea. Most will argue such arrangements impede former couples from finding closure, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and are a nuisance across the board. Apparently, and in a twist fit for a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause our furry friends to become depressed.
While respecting the inner life of dogs – countless people speak of their remarkable empathy. For a standout portrayal in canine melancholy, one need only look recent cinema. I firmly believe that a dog such as Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix played by a talented dog named Gus, would struggle adapting to split households. If this concept a full holiday film around this situation holds water remains debatable at best.Standard Holiday Fare
Fairness demands noting, Merv, the work of its screenwriters and under the guidance of Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims more profound than its premise. It functions as a seasonal offering from a streaming platform giant – the complexity are modest. Its storyline unfolds as simple and direct: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their post-breakup gloom is rivaled only by their dog's, decide on a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. There, inevitably, they will presumably stumble toward the idea that they are better together. The supporting cast – including a group of comedic actors – serve as the usual assortment of types. The film's look has the quality of a streaming service original, with a holiday backdrop that is visibly contrived – exemplified by fake snow piled on lush pines as a summer location substitutes for a cold December city.
The Dog's Domain
If these predictable parts come together into a pleasant experience hinges on the execution and one's taste for easy entertainment. On the latter point, Merv hones in on a demographic – those people who scroll endlessly for dog videos. It provides a series of scenes focused on the pet. The central draw is the dog, and while this leads to some awkward editing between the pet's "lines" and the actors' responses, the movie does offer canine party antics, dog depression, and, finally, doggie joy.
The Two-Legged Cast
This level of success is not earned for the interpersonal drama. The film's approach wavers between relationship drama, broad humor, formulaic romance, and silly gags, never fully committing to a consistent feel. This is not the actor playing Russ, who is willing to embrace the silliness and cringe inherent in the unusual premise. His performance contains a endearing lack of ego that supplies a significant portion of the appeal for this ostensibly perfect couple. Anna's portrayer, true to her usual style, injects a particular brand of eccentricity that will be to your taste or not. The character can feel a bit too dry, especially when contrasted against Cox's vulnerable performance. (For what it's worth, the canine performer manages looking despondent – not quite Messi from that acclaimed drama, he is still a scene-stealer.)
Merv tries to add substance to the central romance for sequences focusing solely on them – a bit of a pity, given that the dog is undoubtedly the best part of this feel-good picture. As one might predict, it just about gets by. The reason for the split might seem more grounded and mature with more screen time and fewer direct statements. In the end, Merv is light and sugary, meeting every expected note. Crafting a story on this shared-custody premise is not terrible – though I wouldn't call it a brilliant concept.
- Merv premieres on the Amazon platform starting December 10.
