This is a widely held belief among many that co-parenting a dog post-separation is a terrible idea. Experts frequently claim such arrangements impede individuals from moving forward, lead to scheduling chaos, lead to tension, and prove frustrating across the board. Apparently, in a revelation suited to a streaming movie, it also makes the dogs themselves to feel down.
While respecting the mental health of animals – countless people observe their profound sensitivity. If you need masterclass in canine melancholy, one need only look a past film. There is little doubt that a dog like Merv, a spirited little dog played by the canine actor Gus, would have a hard time adjusting to split households. If this concept a full holiday film around this situation works effectively seems a questionable prospect.Predictable Foundations
Fairness demands noting, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and directed by director Swale, makes no grand claims deeper than what it is. We have here a seasonal offering from a corporate studio – the complexity is limited. The narrative proves to be straightforward: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their individual funk is surpassed by their dog's, take a uplifting getaway to a canine-centric retreat. At this location, predictably, they will surely realize the idea that they are better together. Side characters – played by a group of comedic actors – are crafted as the usual assortment of types. Its aesthetic has the quality of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is visibly contrived – exemplified by flurries clinging to green trees as North Carolina stands in for a cold December city.
The Dog's Domain
Whether these familiar elements merge into an entertaining watch rests upon the strength of the performances and the viewer's appetite for cinematic comfort food. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. It provides a series of scenes focused on the pet. The main attraction is Merv himself, and while this leads to some awkward editing between animal action and people's faces, the movie does offer dog beach fun, dog depression, and, finally, pure puppy happiness.
The Two-Legged Cast
The same praise is not earned for the human side of the story. Its style vacillates between relationship drama, wacky comedy, formulaic romance, and silly gags, never fully committing to any one mode. This is not the actor playing Russ, who is admirably committed the humiliating and funny demanded of the dog resort scenario. He brings a likable self-deprecation that offers much of the film's charm for this seemingly ideal couple. Zooey Deschanel, as is her trademark, brings a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal comes across as a touch too detached, notably when alongside Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (On another note, Merv himself is convincing at acting depressed – he may not be Messi from that acclaimed drama, he's definitely a very good boy.)
The film attempts to provide depth to Anna and Russ's relationship for moments when the dog is absent – which is unfortunate, considering the dog is undoubtedly the most adorable aspect of this cute-aiming movie. Unsurprisingly, it achieves only baseline competence. The reason for the split would feel more nuanced with less exposition and more subtle storytelling. As it stands, Merv is gentle and pleasant, fulfilling every expected note. Making a film with this canine conflict is not terrible – even if it's not exactly a stroke of genius.
- Merv becomes available on Amazon Prime Video this December.
