This is an often-repeated piece of advice among many that jointly caring for a canine companion following a split is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such setups hinder individuals from healing, cause practical headaches, fuel disputes, and prove frustrating for all parties. Apparently, as a development fit for a streaming movie, it also makes the canine in question to feel down.
While respecting the inner life of our pets – pet parents observe their profound sensitivity. For a prime example in dog sorrow, consider recent cinema. There is little doubt that a dog such as Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix portrayed by a talented dog named Gus, would find it difficult coping with life in two homes. The idea of basing a full holiday film on this conflict works effectively remains a questionable prospect.Standard Holiday Fare
Fairness demands noting, Merv, crafted by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and under the guidance of playwright Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims deeper than a light film. It functions as a seasonal offering from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the depth is limited. The narrative unfolds as uncomplicated: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their individual funk is matched by their dog's, embark on a uplifting getaway to a luxury pet hotel. There, inevitably, they will undoubtedly realize the idea that they are better together. The supporting cast – played by familiar faces – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually is reminiscent of a branded content, with a wintry atmosphere that is obviously artificial – think fake snow piled on verdant foliage as a summer location substitutes for the Northeast.
The Dog's Domain
How these familiar elements coalesce into something enjoyable rests upon the execution and one's taste for comfort viewing. Regarding the second aspect, Merv targets a specific viewer – individuals who browse regularly for pet content. It provides a series of adorable dog montages. The main attraction is the canine star, and while this leads to some clunky cuts between what the dog does and the actors' responses, the movie succeeds in showing canine party antics, canine sorrow, and, ultimately, pure puppy happiness.
Where It Wobbles
This level of success cannot be applied for the romantic plot. The tone vacillates between serious study, broad humor, standard rom-com beats, and outright slapstick, failing to master any one mode. This is not the actor playing Russ, who is willing to embrace the silliness and cringe inherent in the bizarre setting. He brings a likable self-deprecation that offers a significant portion of the appeal for this seemingly ideal couple. Anna's portrayer, in her typical fashion, injects a distinctive offbeat energy that will either resonate with viewers. Her Anna can feel a little too aloof, especially when alongside Cox's vulnerable performance. (For what it's worth, Gus the Dog is convincing at acting depressed – he may not be the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he's definitely a very good boy.)
Merv tries to provide depth to Anna and Russ's relationship for sequences focusing solely on them – a bit of a pity, since the dog is easily the most adorable aspect of this cute-aiming movie. Expectedly, it achieves only baseline competence. The catalyst for their separation could have been more adult and realistic with greater exploration and fewer direct statements. Ultimately, Merv is slight and sweet, hitting precisely what you anticipate. Crafting a story with this canine conflict has potential – but it's hardly a stroke of genius.
- Merv streams on the Amazon platform this December.
