It is a common warning among many that sharing custody a canine companion following a split is a recipe for trouble. Most will argue such situations impede individuals from healing, lead to scheduling chaos, lead to tension, and become annoying for everyone involved. Apparently, in a revelation worthy of a streaming movie, it also makes our furry friends to feel down.
Without minimizing the mental health of our pets – many owners observe their profound sensitivity. To witness a masterclass in pet despair, consider a past film. It seems certain that a dog of Merv's nature, a scruffy terrier type portrayed by a talented dog named Gus, would find it difficult adjusting to split households. The idea of basing a full holiday film on such a setup works effectively seems a questionable prospect.Predictable Foundations
To its credit, Merv, crafted by the writing duo and helmed by playwright Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be more profound than a light film. This is a seasonal offering from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the complexity are modest. The narrative proves to be straightforward: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their own sadness is rivaled only by their dog's, take a therapeutic trip to a dog-friendly resort. At this location, predictably, they will undoubtedly stumble toward the idea that they are better together. Side characters – played by a group of comedic actors – are crafted as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. The film's look has the quality of a branded content, with a wintry atmosphere that is clearly manufactured – exemplified by flurries clinging to green trees as North Carolina stands in for a wintery Boston.
The Dog's Domain
How these predictable parts merge into a pleasant experience hinges on the actors' work and an acceptance of easy entertainment. Regarding the second aspect, Merv knows its audience – those people who scroll endlessly for dog videos. The film delivers a series of scenes focused on the pet. The central draw is the canine star, and even if it causes some awkward editing between what the dog does and human reaction, the movie does offer dog beach fun, dog depression, and, finally, doggie joy.
The Human Element
Such effectiveness does not extend for the romantic plot. Its style wavers between relationship drama, broad humor, formulaic romance, and silly gags, never fully committing to any one mode. The fault lies not with the actor playing Russ, who is willing to embrace the silliness and cringe inherent in the bizarre setting. His performance contains a endearing lack of ego that provides a significant portion of the appeal for this seemingly ideal couple. Her co-star Deschanel, as is her trademark, imparts a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. The character seems a touch too detached, particularly when alongside Cox's vulnerable performance. (For what it's worth, the canine performer manages acting depressed – while no the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he remains a very good boy.)
Merv tries to provide depth to the couple's history for moments when the dog is absent – a regrettable choice, considering the dog is easily the most adorable aspect of this cute-aiming movie. As one might predict, it meets the bare minimum. The catalyst for their original breakup might seem more nuanced with more screen time and less blunt explanation. Ultimately, Merv is light and sugary, hitting all its marks. Making a film on this shared-custody premise is not terrible – even if it's not exactly a stroke of genius.
- Merv premieres on the Amazon platform starting December 10.
