This is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that jointly caring for a dog following a split is a terrible idea. Experts frequently claim such setups hinder former couples from finding closure, create logistical nightmares, lead to tension, and become annoying for everyone involved. Seemingly, in a revelation worthy of a streaming movie, it can even cause the canine in question to become depressed.
While respecting the emotional well-being of dogs – pet parents observe their deep emotional capacity. For a prime example in canine melancholy, consider a past film. It seems certain that a dog such as Merv, a spirited little dog played by the canine actor Gus, would find it difficult adapting to split households. If this concept a feature-length romcom on this conflict holds water is rather doubtful.Standard Holiday Fare
Honestly, Merv, crafted by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and directed by director Swale, makes no grand claims more profound than a light film. This is a holiday release from a streaming platform giant – the ambitions is limited. Its storyline unfolds as straightforward: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their own sadness is rivaled only by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. There, inevitably, they will presumably realize the idea that they belong with each other. Ensemble players – featuring Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. The film's look carries the feel of a platform's in-house production, with a wintry atmosphere that is obviously artificial – as seen in flurries clinging to verdant foliage as a warm climate stands in for a wintery Boston.
The Canine Charisma
Whether these standard ingredients merge into an entertaining watch depends on the strength of the performances and one's taste for comfort viewing. For the comfort factor, Merv knows its audience – those people who seek out for dog videos. The film delivers a series of adorable dog montages. The main attraction is Merv himself, and though it results in some awkward editing between the pet's "lines" and the actors' responses, the movie delivers on dog beach fun, pet moping, and, in the end, pure puppy happiness.
The Two-Legged Cast
This level of success does not extend for the romantic plot. Its style shifts uneasily between serious study, broad humor, formulaic romance, and outright slapstick, never fully committing to a consistent feel. This is not the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the humiliating and funny inherent in the unusual premise. Cox exhibits a endearing lack of ego that offers a significant portion of the appeal for this ostensibly perfect couple. Zooey Deschanel, true to her usual style, imparts a particular brand of eccentricity that will be to your taste or not. The character seems a bit too dry, particularly when contrasted against Cox's genuine sadness. (On another note, Gus the Dog manages flopping and whining – while no the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he's definitely a scene-stealer.)
The film attempts to provide depth to the couple's history for moments when the dog is absent – which is unfortunate, since the dog is by far the cutest element of this feel-good picture. Unsurprisingly, it just about gets by. The reason for their separation could have been more nuanced with less exposition and less blunt explanation. Ultimately, Merv is gentle and pleasant, meeting precisely what you anticipate. Crafting a story with this canine conflict has potential – even if it's not exactly a great one either.
- Merv becomes available on Amazon Prime Video on December 10th.
