This is an often-repeated piece of advice in certain circles that jointly caring for a dog following a split is ill-advised. Most will argue such setups prevent individuals from healing, lead to scheduling chaos, lead to tension, and become annoying for all parties. Apparently, in a revelation suited to a streaming movie, it can even cause the canine in question to become depressed.
Without minimizing the emotional well-being of our pets – pet parents observe their deep emotional capacity. For a masterclass in pet despair, one need only look another performance. It seems certain that a dog such as Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix brought to life by Gus the Dog, would find it difficult adjusting to life in two homes. The idea of basing a full holiday film on such a setup works effectively remains rather doubtful.A Familiar Formula
Fairness demands noting, Merv, crafted by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and under the guidance of playwright Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims more profound than its premise. It functions as a holiday release from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the complexity is limited. Its storyline proves to be uncomplicated: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their own sadness is matched by their dog's, embark on a therapeutic trip to a luxury pet hotel. Once there, as expected, they will undoubtedly stumble toward the idea that they belong with each other. Ensemble players – including Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. The film's look is reminiscent of a branded content, with a holiday backdrop that is clearly manufactured – as seen in fake snow surrounding verdant foliage as a summer location stands in for a wintery Boston.
The Canine Charisma
How these standard ingredients merge into a pleasant experience rests upon the strength of the performances and an acceptance of cinematic comfort food. Regarding the second aspect, Merv knows its audience – those people who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. Audiences receive a wealth of canine-centric sequences. The main attraction is the canine star, and though it results in some stilted moments between the pet's "lines" and the actors' responses, the movie does offer dog beach fun, canine sorrow, and, finally, pure puppy happiness.
The Human Element
The same praise does not extend for the human side of the story. The film's approach wavers between emotional depth, zany antics, formulaic romance, and physical comedy, failing to master a single genre. No blame falls on the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the humiliating and funny inherent in the unusual premise. His performance contains a charming humility that supplies the bulk of the chemistry for this seemingly ideal couple. Zooey Deschanel, in her typical fashion, injects a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. The character seems a bit too dry, especially when contrasted against Cox's genuine sadness. (For what it's worth, Gus the Dog succeeds in flopping and whining – while no Messi from that acclaimed drama, he's definitely an excellent dog.)
The story strives to provide depth to the central romance for moments when the dog is absent – which is unfortunate, since the title character is by far the most adorable aspect of this film designed for charm. As one might predict, it meets the bare minimum. The cause for their separation might seem more nuanced with greater exploration and fewer direct statements. Ultimately, Merv is gentle and pleasant, hitting every expected note. Creating a movie on this shared-custody premise isn't a bad idea – but it's not exactly a great one either.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video starting December 10.
