This is a common warning in certain circles that co-parenting a pet following a split is ill-advised. Experts frequently claim such arrangements hinder former couples from finding closure, lead to scheduling chaos, lead to tension, and prove frustrating for all parties. As it turns out, as a development suited to a streaming movie, it can even cause the dogs themselves to become depressed.
While respecting the mental health of animals – pet parents speak of their profound sensitivity. If you need standout portrayal in dog sorrow, one need only look another performance. I firmly believe that a dog like Merv, a spirited little dog brought to life by Gus the Dog, would find it difficult adjusting to life in two homes. If this concept a full holiday film on this conflict is sustainable is rather doubtful.Standard Holiday Fare
To its credit, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and helmed by playwright Jessica Swale, never aspires to be anything more than its premise. This is a holiday release from a corporate studio – the depth are modest. Its storyline proves to be simple and direct: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their own sadness is surpassed by their dog's, decide on a therapeutic trip to a luxury pet hotel. Once there, as expected, they will presumably rediscover 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 has the quality of a branded content, with a Christmas setting that is clearly manufactured – think fake snow clinging to lush pines as North Carolina substitutes for a cold December city.
The Dog's Domain
If these predictable parts merge into a pleasant experience hinges on the strength of the performances and one's taste for comfort viewing. On the latter point, Merv hones in on a demographic – the kind who browse regularly for cute animal clips. It provides a wealth of scenes focused on the pet. The primary selling point is the dog, and while this leads to some awkward editing between what the dog does and the actors' responses, the movie succeeds in showing dog beach fun, dog depression, and, finally, doggie joy.
The Two-Legged Cast
Such effectiveness cannot be applied for the romantic plot. Its style vacillates between serious study, zany antics, standard rom-com beats, and physical comedy, never fully committing to a consistent feel. No blame falls on Charlie Cox, who is fully game the silliness and cringe required by the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a charming humility that offers much of the film's charm for this seemingly ideal couple. Her co-star Deschanel, true to her usual style, brings a distinctive offbeat energy that will either resonate with viewers. Her Anna can feel a little too aloof, particularly when paired with Cox's vulnerable performance. (On another note, the canine performer is convincing at looking despondent – while no a canine thespian of that caliber, he remains a scene-stealer.)
The film attempts to provide depth to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – a regrettable choice, since the title character is undoubtedly the best part of this cute-aiming movie. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The reason for the split might seem more adult and realistic with less exposition and fewer direct statements. As it stands, Merv is light and sugary, meeting all its marks. Crafting a story on this shared-custody premise isn't a bad idea – but I wouldn't call it a stroke of genius.
- Merv becomes available on Amazon Prime Video on December 10th.
