It is a widely held belief among many that co-parenting a pet after a breakup is ill-advised. Most will argue such arrangements impede ex-partners from moving forward, cause practical headaches, fuel disputes, and become annoying across the board. As it turns out, and in a twist worthy of a streaming movie, it also makes the dogs themselves to become depressed.
While respecting the emotional well-being of our pets – pet parents observe their deep emotional capacity. For a standout portrayal in pet despair, consider recent cinema. There is little doubt that a dog of Merv's nature, a scruffy terrier type brought to life by the canine actor Gus, would find it difficult adapting to split households. If this concept a full holiday film around this situation is sustainable is rather doubtful.Standard Holiday Fare
Honestly, Merv, written by the writing duo and directed by Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be more profound than what it is. This is a seasonal offering from a corporate studio – the complexity is limited. Its storyline proves to be simple and direct: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their own sadness is surpassed by their dog's, decide on a uplifting getaway to a dog-friendly resort. There, inevitably, they will presumably rediscover the idea that they are better together. Ensemble players – including Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – fulfill roles quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually is reminiscent of a platform's in-house production, with a Christmas setting that is visibly contrived – exemplified by flurries piled on lush pines as North Carolina substitutes for a cold December city.
The Canine Charisma
How these predictable parts come together into something enjoyable hinges on the execution and an acceptance of cinematic comfort food. Regarding the second aspect, Merv hones in on a demographic – the kind who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. The film delivers a plethora of scenes focused on the pet. The central draw is the dog, and while this leads to some awkward editing between animal action and the actors' responses, the movie delivers on walking sequences, dog depression, and, finally, doggie joy.
The Two-Legged Cast
Such effectiveness is not earned for the human side of the story. The film's approach vacillates between serious study, zany antics, standard rom-com beats, and outright slapstick, never fully committing to a single genre. This is not Cox's performance, who is fully game the humiliating and funny demanded of the unusual premise. His performance contains a endearing lack of ego that supplies much of the film's charm for this seemingly ideal couple. Her co-star Deschanel, in her typical fashion, brings a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. The character can feel a bit too dry, especially when alongside Cox's vulnerable performance. (On another note, Gus the Dog manages acting depressed – not quite Messi from that acclaimed drama, he's definitely an excellent dog.)
The story strives to give weight to the central romance for scenes without their pet – which is unfortunate, since Merv is undoubtedly the cutest element of this film designed for charm. As one might predict, it achieves only baseline competence. The catalyst for their separation could have been more grounded and mature with more screen time and less blunt explanation. In the end, Merv is slight and sweet, meeting every expected note. Crafting a story with this canine conflict is not terrible – though it's not exactly a great one either.
- Merv becomes available on the Amazon platform on December 10th.
