It is a common warning for numerous people that jointly caring for a pet following a split is a recipe for trouble. The consensus suggests such arrangements prevent individuals from finding closure, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and are a nuisance for all parties. As it turns out, in a revelation fit for a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to our furry friends to become depressed.
While respecting the inner life of animals – countless people attest to their deep emotional capacity. To witness a masterclass in pet despair, consider a past film. There is little doubt that a dog like Merv, a spirited little dog played by a talented dog named Gus, would find it difficult coping with divided living arrangements. If this concept an entire Christmas romance on this conflict works effectively is debatable at best.Predictable Foundations
To its credit, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and directed by Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims anything more than its premise. It functions as a seasonal offering from a corporate studio – the depth remains surface-level. The narrative unfolds as straightforward: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their own sadness is matched by their dog's, decide on a therapeutic trip to a canine-centric retreat. Once there, as expected, they will undoubtedly stumble toward the idea that they belong with each other. Ensemble players – played by familiar faces – are crafted as the usual assortment of types. The film's look carries the feel of a branded content, with a wintry atmosphere that is obviously artificial – as seen in fake snow surrounding lush pines as North Carolina stands in for a cold December city.
The Dog's Domain
If these standard ingredients coalesce into a pleasant experience rests upon the execution and an acceptance of easy entertainment. For the comfort factor, Merv knows its audience – those people who seek out for cute animal clips. It provides a plethora of adorable dog montages. The central draw is the canine star, and though it results in some stilted moments between the pet's "lines" and human reaction, the movie succeeds in showing dog beach fun, dog depression, and, finally, pure puppy happiness.
Where It Wobbles
This level of success cannot be applied for the interpersonal drama. The tone vacillates between relationship drama, wacky comedy, predictable love story, and outright slapstick, never fully committing to a consistent feel. This is not Cox's performance, who is admirably committed the absurd and awkward required by the unusual premise. He brings a charming humility that provides much of the film's charm for this seemingly ideal couple. Zooey Deschanel, in her typical fashion, brings a particular brand of eccentricity that will be to your taste or not. The character can feel a little too aloof, especially when paired with Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (On another note, the canine performer manages looking despondent – not quite the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he's definitely a scene-stealer.)
The film attempts to add substance to the central romance for scenes without their pet – a bit of a pity, since the dog is undoubtedly the best part of this cute-aiming movie. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The cause for their separation would feel more adult and realistic with more screen time and more subtle storytelling. In the end, Merv is light and sugary, meeting every expected note. Creating a movie on this shared-custody premise has potential – even if it's hardly a brilliant concept.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video on December 10th.
