This is an often-repeated piece of advice among many that jointly caring for a pet after a breakup is a recipe for trouble. Experts frequently claim such setups prevent former couples from finding closure, lead to scheduling chaos, spark arguments, and become annoying for all parties. As it turns out, in a revelation fit for a streaming movie, it can even cause our furry friends to become depressed.
Without minimizing the inner life of animals – many owners speak of their remarkable empathy. If you need standout portrayal in pet despair, consider another performance. It seems certain that a dog such as Merv, a scruffy terrier type portrayed by the canine actor Gus, would find it difficult adjusting to life in two homes. Whether this premise a full holiday film around this situation is sustainable remains a questionable prospect.A Familiar Formula
Honestly, Merv, written by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and directed by Jessica Swale, never aspires to be more profound than a light film. It functions as a seasonal offering from a corporate studio – the complexity are modest. The narrative proves to be uncomplicated: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their post-breakup gloom is surpassed by their dog's, decide on a therapeutic trip to a canine-centric retreat. At this location, predictably, they will undoubtedly rediscover the idea that they belong with each other. Side characters – including Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – serve as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Visually has the quality of a branded content, with a holiday backdrop that is clearly manufactured – as seen in flurries surrounding verdant foliage as North Carolina substitutes for a wintery Boston.
The Dog's Domain
How these familiar elements come together into a pleasant experience rests upon the strength of the performances and one's taste for cinematic comfort food. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who browse regularly for dog videos. The film delivers a series of adorable dog montages. The main attraction is the dog, and even if it causes some clunky cuts between animal action and people's faces, the movie succeeds in showing walking sequences, pet moping, and, in the end, doggie joy.
The Two-Legged Cast
The same praise is not earned for the romantic plot. The tone vacillates between serious study, zany antics, formulaic romance, and physical comedy, failing to master a consistent feel. The fault lies not with Cox's performance, who is fully game the absurd and awkward demanded of the unusual premise. Cox exhibits a likable self-deprecation that supplies much of the film's charm for this ostensibly perfect couple. Her co-star Deschanel, in her typical fashion, brings a distinctive offbeat energy that will click for some but not others. Her portrayal seems a bit too dry, notably when contrasted against Cox's vulnerable performance. (It should be noted, Merv himself succeeds in flopping and whining – he may not be a canine thespian of that caliber, he's definitely an excellent dog.)
The story strives to provide depth to the couple's history for scenes without their pet – a bit of a pity, since the title character is easily the most adorable aspect of this feel-good picture. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The reason for their separation would feel more adult and realistic with greater exploration and fewer direct statements. In the end, Merv is slight and sweet, meeting every expected note. Crafting a story about dog co-parenting has potential – even if I wouldn't call it a brilliant concept.
- Merv becomes available on Amazon Prime Video on December 10th.
