This is a common warning among many that sharing custody a pet after a breakup is a terrible idea. Experts frequently claim such arrangements impede ex-partners from moving forward, create logistical nightmares, fuel disputes, and prove frustrating across the board. Apparently, in a revelation worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause the canine in question to experience sadness.
While respecting the mental health of our pets – pet parents attest to their profound sensitivity. If you need standout portrayal in pet despair, simply recall a past film. It seems certain that a dog like Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix brought to life by Gus the Dog, would struggle adjusting to divided living arrangements. The idea of basing a full holiday film around this situation works effectively is a questionable prospect.A Familiar Formula
Fairness demands noting, Merv, crafted by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and helmed by director Swale, makes no grand claims more profound than a light film. It functions as a seasonal offering from a streaming platform giant – the complexity is limited. Its storyline unfolds as straightforward: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their individual funk is rivaled only by their dog's, embark on a therapeutic trip to a canine-centric retreat. At this location, predictably, they will presumably stumble toward the idea that they are better together. The supporting cast – featuring familiar faces – fulfill roles eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. The film's look is reminiscent of a platform's in-house production, with a wintry atmosphere that is visibly contrived – think flurries piled on verdant foliage as a warm climate doubles as the Northeast.
The Canine Charisma
If these predictable parts coalesce into an entertaining watch depends on the actors' work and an acceptance of easy entertainment. Regarding the second aspect, Merv knows its audience – individuals who browse regularly for cute animal clips. The film delivers a series of adorable dog montages. The central draw is the canine star, and while this leads to some awkward editing between animal action and the actors' responses, the movie delivers on canine party antics, canine sorrow, and, ultimately, pure puppy happiness.
Where It Wobbles
The same praise does not extend for the romantic plot. The tone vacillates between emotional depth, zany antics, standard rom-com beats, and outright slapstick, never fully committing to a consistent feel. This is not the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the silliness and cringe inherent in the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a likable self-deprecation that provides the bulk of the chemistry for this seemingly ideal couple. Zooey Deschanel, as is her trademark, imparts a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. The character seems a touch too detached, notably when alongside Cox's genuine sadness. (For what it's worth, Gus the Dog manages flopping and whining – while no a canine thespian of that caliber, he's definitely an excellent dog.)
Merv tries to give weight to the central romance for sequences focusing solely on them – a bit of a pity, given that Merv is easily the most adorable aspect of this cute-aiming movie. As one might predict, it just about gets by. The cause for the split might seem more nuanced with more screen time and fewer direct statements. Ultimately, Merv is gentle and pleasant, meeting every expected note. Creating a movie with this canine conflict is not terrible – though it's not exactly a great one either.
- Merv premieres on Amazon Prime Video this December.
