It is a widely held belief among many that sharing custody a pet following a split is a recipe for trouble. The consensus suggests such arrangements impede individuals from finding closure, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and prove frustrating for everyone involved. As it turns out, as a development fit for a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to our furry friends to experience sadness.
While respecting the mental health of our pets – countless people attest to their remarkable empathy. If you need prime example in canine melancholy, one need only look a past film. It seems certain that a dog such as Merv, a spirited little dog brought to life by a talented dog named Gus, would find it difficult adjusting to split households. The idea of basing a full holiday film on this conflict is sustainable seems a questionable prospect.Predictable Foundations
To its credit, Merv, the work of the writing duo and directed by Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be deeper than a light film. It functions as a seasonal offering from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the depth remains surface-level. The narrative is destined to be simple and direct: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their individual funk is surpassed by their dog's, embark on a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. There, inevitably, they will surely stumble toward the idea that they are better together. Ensemble players – played by a group of comedic actors – fulfill roles eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Visually is reminiscent of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is obviously artificial – think flurries surrounding green trees as a summer location doubles as a cold December city.
The Canine Charisma
How these familiar elements merge into a pleasant experience rests upon the actors' work and one's taste for easy entertainment. For the comfort factor, Merv knows its audience – individuals who seek out for cute animal clips. It provides a series of canine-centric sequences. The main attraction is the canine star, and even if it causes some awkward editing between the pet's "lines" and people's faces, the movie succeeds in showing dog beach fun, dog depression, and, ultimately, doggie joy.
The Two-Legged Cast
Such effectiveness is not earned for the human side of the story. The tone shifts uneasily between relationship drama, broad humor, formulaic romance, and silly gags, failing to master any one mode. This is not Cox's performance, who is admirably committed the humiliating and funny demanded of the unusual premise. Cox exhibits a endearing lack of ego that offers much of the film's charm for this ostensibly perfect couple. Anna's portrayer, true to her usual style, injects a distinctive offbeat energy that will either resonate with viewers. Her Anna comes across as a bit too dry, notably when paired with Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (It should be noted, the canine performer succeeds in looking despondent – he may not be the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he remains an excellent dog.)
The story strives to add substance to the couple's history for moments when the dog is absent – a bit of a pity, given that the title character is by far the most adorable aspect of this cute-aiming movie. Unsurprisingly, it meets the bare minimum. The reason for the split could have been more grounded and mature with more screen time and less blunt explanation. As it stands, Merv is light and sugary, fulfilling precisely what you anticipate. Crafting a story on this shared-custody premise is not terrible – but it's hardly a stroke of genius.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video starting December 10.
