This is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that sharing custody a pet post-separation is a terrible idea. Experts frequently claim such setups impede former couples from moving forward, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and are a nuisance for everyone involved. Apparently, as a development suited to a streaming movie, it also makes the canine in question to become depressed.
While respecting the emotional well-being of animals – pet parents attest to their deep emotional capacity. If you need prime example in canine melancholy, one need only look a past film. It seems certain that a dog of Merv's nature, a scruffy terrier type played by the canine actor Gus, would have a hard time adjusting to divided living arrangements. The idea of basing a full holiday film on such a setup holds water seems a questionable prospect.A Familiar Formula
Honestly, Merv, the work of the writing duo and directed by director Swale, doesn't pretend to be anything more than what it is. It functions as a seasonal offering from a corporate studio – the depth is limited. The plot proves to be uncomplicated: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their post-breakup gloom is surpassed by their dog's, embark on a uplifting getaway to a dog-friendly resort. At this location, predictably, they will surely stumble toward the idea that they belong with each other. Ensemble players – played by a group of comedic actors – fulfill roles the usual assortment of types. Its aesthetic has the quality of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is obviously artificial – think fake snow surrounding green trees as a summer location doubles as a cold December city.
The Canine Charisma
If these familiar elements merge into a pleasant experience hinges on the execution and one's taste for comfort viewing. On the latter point, Merv hones in on a demographic – individuals who seek out for cute animal clips. Audiences receive a wealth of adorable dog montages. The main attraction is the dog, and even if it causes some awkward editing between animal action and human reaction, the movie does offer dog beach fun, pet moping, and, finally, doggie joy.
The Two-Legged Cast
Such effectiveness cannot be applied for the human side of the story. The tone wavers between relationship drama, zany antics, standard rom-com beats, and silly gags, never fully committing to a single genre. The fault lies not with the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the silliness and cringe inherent in the bizarre setting. He brings a charming humility that supplies a significant portion of the appeal for this on-the-rocks couple. Anna's portrayer, in her typical fashion, brings a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna can feel a little too aloof, especially when contrasted against Cox's vulnerable performance. (On another note, the canine performer manages flopping and whining – while no a canine thespian of that caliber, he is still a scene-stealer.)
Merv tries to add substance to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – a regrettable choice, considering Merv is easily the best part of this feel-good picture. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The catalyst for their original breakup could have been more nuanced with more screen time and fewer direct statements. As it stands, Merv is gentle and pleasant, hitting every expected note. Crafting a story on this shared-custody premise isn't a bad idea – but I wouldn't call it a brilliant concept.
- Merv premieres on Amazon Prime Video this December.
