This is a widely held belief for numerous people that jointly caring for a pet after a breakup is ill-advised. Most will argue such arrangements hinder ex-partners from healing, create logistical nightmares, spark arguments, and prove frustrating for all parties. As it turns out, as a development fit for a direct-to-platform film, it also makes the canine in question to become depressed.
While respecting the mental health of animals – pet parents speak of their deep emotional capacity. If you need standout portrayal in dog sorrow, simply recall a past film. It seems certain that a dog of Merv's nature, a scruffy terrier type portrayed by Gus the Dog, would have a hard time adapting to split households. Whether this premise a full holiday film on this conflict works effectively seems a questionable prospect.Predictable Foundations
Fairness demands noting, Merv, crafted by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and directed by playwright Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims anything more than its premise. We have here a seasonal offering from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the depth remains surface-level. The narrative proves to be simple and direct: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their post-breakup gloom is surpassed by their dog's, take a uplifting getaway to a luxury pet hotel. There, inevitably, they will presumably rediscover the idea that they belong with each other. The supporting cast – featuring a group of comedic actors – serve as the usual assortment of types. The film's look is reminiscent of a branded content, with a wintry atmosphere that is obviously artificial – think fake snow clinging to green trees as a warm climate stands in for the Northeast.
The Dog's Domain
If these familiar elements merge into an entertaining watch rests upon the execution and one's taste for comfort viewing. On the latter point, Merv knows its audience – the kind who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. The film delivers a wealth of scenes focused on the pet. The primary selling point is the dog, and though it results in some awkward editing between animal action and human reaction, the movie succeeds in showing canine party antics, dog depression, and, ultimately, doggie joy.
The Two-Legged Cast
This level of success does not extend for the interpersonal drama. The film's approach vacillates between emotional depth, zany antics, standard rom-com beats, and physical comedy, failing to master a consistent feel. No blame falls on Cox's performance, who is willing to embrace the silliness and cringe demanded of the bizarre setting. His performance contains a endearing lack of ego that offers a significant portion of the appeal for this ostensibly perfect couple. Her co-star Deschanel, as is her trademark, brings a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna seems a bit too dry, notably when paired with Cox's vulnerable performance. (It should be noted, Gus the Dog is convincing at looking despondent – while no a canine thespian of that caliber, he is still an excellent dog.)
The story strives to give weight to the central romance for moments when the dog is absent – a bit of a pity, considering the title character is by far the best part of this film designed for charm. Unsurprisingly, it meets the bare minimum. The reason for their original breakup could have been more grounded and mature with more screen time and fewer direct statements. As it stands, Merv is light and sugary, fulfilling all its marks. Crafting a story on this shared-custody premise is not terrible – even if it's not exactly a stroke of genius.
- Merv becomes available on the Amazon platform this December.
