It is a widely held belief for numerous people that co-parenting a pet post-separation is a terrible idea. Most will argue such situations prevent individuals from healing, lead to scheduling chaos, spark arguments, and become annoying across the board. Apparently, in a revelation worthy of a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to the canine in question to feel down.
While respecting the emotional well-being of our pets – many owners speak of their deep emotional capacity. If you need standout portrayal in dog sorrow, one need only look recent cinema. There is little doubt that a dog like Merv, a spirited little dog portrayed by a talented dog named Gus, would have a hard time adjusting to life in two homes. If this concept a feature-length romcom on such a setup holds water remains debatable at best.Standard Holiday Fare
To its credit, Merv, the work of the writing duo and under the guidance of Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims anything more than a light film. We have here a seasonal offering from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the complexity are modest. Its storyline unfolds as uncomplicated: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their individual funk is surpassed by their dog's, embark on a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. At this location, predictably, they will surely rediscover the idea that they are better together. Ensemble players – played by familiar faces – are crafted as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. The film's look carries the feel of a streaming service original, with a wintry atmosphere that is obviously artificial – exemplified by obvious snow effects clinging to lush pines as a summer location doubles as the Northeast.
The Canine Charisma
How these standard ingredients come together into a pleasant experience rests upon the execution and an acceptance of easy entertainment. For the comfort factor, Merv hones in on a demographic – individuals who seek out for pet content. It provides a wealth of adorable dog montages. The primary selling point is the canine star, and even if it causes some clunky cuts between animal action and human reaction, the movie does offer canine party antics, pet moping, and, finally, doggie joy.
The Two-Legged Cast
Such effectiveness cannot be applied for the interpersonal drama. The tone vacillates between relationship drama, wacky comedy, formulaic romance, and silly gags, not quite landing a consistent feel. The fault lies not with the actor playing Russ, who is admirably committed the absurd and awkward demanded of the dog resort scenario. He brings a charming humility that offers much of the film's charm for this seemingly ideal couple. Zooey Deschanel, true to her usual style, injects a particular brand of eccentricity that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal can feel a little too aloof, notably when alongside Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (For what it's worth, Gus the Dog succeeds in acting depressed – not quite Messi from that acclaimed drama, he is still an excellent dog.)
Merv tries to add substance to the couple's history for scenes without their pet – a regrettable choice, given that the dog is easily the best part of this film designed for charm. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The catalyst for their separation could have been more adult and realistic with more screen time and more subtle storytelling. In the end, Merv is light and sugary, hitting precisely what you anticipate. Crafting a story about dog co-parenting isn't a bad idea – even if I wouldn't call it a great one either.
- Merv becomes available on the Amazon platform this December.
