This is a common warning in certain circles that jointly caring for a pet post-separation is a terrible idea. The consensus suggests such situations hinder former couples from moving forward, create logistical nightmares, fuel disputes, and become annoying for all parties. Seemingly, in a revelation fit for a streaming movie, it also makes the dogs themselves to experience sadness.
Without minimizing the mental health of animals – pet parents speak of their remarkable empathy. If you need standout portrayal in pet despair, one need only look recent cinema. I firmly believe that a dog like Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix portrayed by a talented dog named Gus, would have a hard time adapting to life in two homes. If this concept a full holiday film around this situation holds water seems debatable at best.Standard Holiday Fare
Honestly, Merv, written by its screenwriters and helmed by Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be anything more than its premise. We have here a Christmas movie from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the depth is limited. The plot proves to be simple and direct: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their own sadness is matched by their dog's, decide on a therapeutic trip to a dog-friendly resort. Once there, as expected, they will presumably realize the idea that they are better together. Ensemble players – including a group of comedic actors – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually is reminiscent of a branded content, with a Christmas setting that is obviously artificial – exemplified by flurries surrounding lush pines as North Carolina doubles as a wintery Boston.
The Dog's Domain
Whether these standard ingredients coalesce into an entertaining watch depends on the execution and one's taste for cinematic comfort food. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who browse regularly for cute animal clips. It provides a series of scenes focused on the pet. The primary selling point is Merv himself, and while this leads to some stilted moments between animal action and people's faces, the movie does offer walking sequences, dog depression, and, in the end, doggie joy.
The Human Element
The same praise does not extend for the interpersonal drama. The tone wavers between relationship drama, wacky comedy, standard rom-com beats, and physical comedy, never fully committing to any one mode. The fault lies not with the actor playing Russ, who is willing to embrace the humiliating and funny demanded of the bizarre setting. His performance contains a endearing lack of ego that provides much of the film's charm for this ostensibly perfect couple. Anna's portrayer, in her typical fashion, imparts a certain millennial quirkiness that will either resonate with viewers. Her portrayal comes across as a touch too detached, especially when alongside Cox's vulnerable performance. (For what it's worth, Gus the Dog succeeds in flopping and whining – not quite the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he's definitely an excellent dog.)
The film attempts to provide depth to the couple's history for moments when the dog is absent – a regrettable choice, considering Merv is undoubtedly the best part of this cute-aiming movie. As one might predict, it meets the bare minimum. The cause for their separation might seem more adult and realistic with more screen time and fewer direct statements. In the end, Merv is slight and sweet, fulfilling precisely what you anticipate. Creating a movie with this canine conflict isn't a bad idea – but it's not exactly a brilliant concept.
- Merv streams on the Amazon platform this December.
