This is a widely held belief for numerous people that jointly caring for a pet post-separation is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such arrangements impede former couples from finding closure, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and are a nuisance across the board. Seemingly, in a revelation worthy of a streaming movie, it can even cause our furry friends to experience sadness.
Without minimizing the inner life of our pets – many owners observe their deep emotional capacity. For a prime example in pet despair, one need only look recent cinema. It seems certain that a dog of Merv's nature, a spirited little dog played by the canine actor Gus, would struggle coping with divided living arrangements. The idea of basing a full holiday film around this situation works effectively remains rather doubtful.Standard Holiday Fare
Fairness demands noting, Merv, written by the writing duo and under the guidance of playwright Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be more profound than what it is. This is a seasonal offering from a corporate studio – the ambitions is limited. Its storyline is destined to be simple and direct: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their individual funk is rivaled only by their dog's, take a therapeutic trip to a dog-friendly resort. There, inevitably, they will undoubtedly realize the idea that they should reunite. The supporting cast – featuring Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – are crafted as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Its aesthetic is reminiscent of a branded content, with a wintry atmosphere that is visibly contrived – think obvious snow effects clinging to verdant foliage as North Carolina doubles as the Northeast.
The Canine Charisma
How these standard ingredients merge into a pleasant experience depends on the actors' work and an acceptance of comfort viewing. On the latter point, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. The film delivers a plethora of scenes focused on the pet. The primary selling point is the canine star, and though it results in some stilted moments between what the dog does and human reaction, the movie succeeds in showing walking sequences, dog depression, and, ultimately, doggie joy.
The Human Element
Such effectiveness does not extend for the human side of the story. Its style shifts uneasily between emotional depth, zany antics, predictable love story, and physical comedy, failing to master a single genre. This is not the actor playing Russ, who is willing to embrace the humiliating and funny inherent in the unusual premise. He brings a endearing lack of ego that offers much of the film's charm for this on-the-rocks couple. Anna's portrayer, true to her usual style, brings a certain millennial quirkiness that will either resonate with viewers. Her Anna seems a little too aloof, particularly when contrasted against Cox's genuine sadness. (It should be noted, Gus the Dog manages flopping and whining – not quite the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he's definitely a very good boy.)
Merv tries to provide depth to the couple's history for moments when the dog is absent – a regrettable choice, given that the dog is undoubtedly the best part of this film designed for charm. Unsurprisingly, it just about gets by. The cause for their separation might seem more adult and realistic with less exposition and more subtle storytelling. In the end, Merv is light and sugary, fulfilling precisely what you anticipate. Crafting a story on this shared-custody premise has potential – but it's hardly a brilliant concept.
- Merv streams on Prime Video starting December 10.
