It is a widely held belief for numerous people that jointly caring for a pet following a split is a terrible idea. The consensus suggests such situations impede ex-partners from finding closure, cause practical headaches, fuel disputes, and become annoying across the board. Apparently, and in a twist suited to a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to the canine in question to feel down.
While respecting the emotional well-being of dogs – countless people observe their profound sensitivity. If you need standout portrayal in dog sorrow, consider recent cinema. It seems certain that a dog such as Merv, a spirited little dog played by the canine actor Gus, would have a hard time adapting to divided living arrangements. Whether this premise a feature-length romcom on such a setup works effectively remains rather doubtful.Predictable Foundations
Fairness demands noting, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and directed by Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be more profound than its premise. This is a seasonal offering from a corporate studio – the depth is limited. The narrative is destined to be straightforward: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their own sadness is matched by their dog's, embark on a uplifting getaway to a canine-centric retreat. Once there, as expected, they will surely rediscover the idea that they belong with each other. Side characters – played by familiar faces – are crafted as the usual assortment of types. The film's look carries the feel of a streaming service original, with a Christmas setting that is obviously artificial – exemplified by flurries clinging to verdant foliage as a summer location doubles as a cold December city.
The Dog's Domain
If these standard ingredients come together into an entertaining watch depends on the execution and one's taste for easy entertainment. On the latter point, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who browse regularly for pet content. Audiences receive a wealth of canine-centric sequences. The main attraction is the dog, and even if it causes some clunky cuts between what the dog does and human reaction, the movie does offer walking sequences, pet moping, and, in the end, pure puppy happiness.
Where It Wobbles
This level of success does not extend for the human side of the story. The film's approach wavers between serious study, zany antics, predictable love story, and outright slapstick, never fully committing to a consistent feel. No blame falls on Charlie Cox, who is fully game the humiliating and funny inherent in the unusual premise. Cox exhibits a endearing lack of ego that provides the bulk of the chemistry for this ostensibly perfect couple. Zooey Deschanel, as is her trademark, brings a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal can feel a touch too detached, notably when contrasted against Cox's genuine sadness. (It should be noted, the canine performer manages acting depressed – not quite a canine thespian of that caliber, he's definitely a scene-stealer.)
Merv tries to give weight to the central romance for sequences focusing solely on them – a bit of a pity, since the dog is by far the best part of this film designed for charm. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The reason for the split might seem more adult and realistic with greater exploration and more subtle storytelling. In the end, Merv is slight and sweet, fulfilling every expected note. Crafting a story about dog co-parenting has potential – though it's not exactly a great one either.
- Merv becomes available on the Amazon platform this December.
