This is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that co-parenting a canine companion following a split is a recipe for trouble. The consensus suggests such setups prevent ex-partners from finding closure, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and prove frustrating for all parties. Seemingly, as a development suited to a direct-to-platform film, it also makes our furry friends to become depressed.
While respecting the mental health of dogs – countless people speak of their remarkable empathy. To witness a prime example in canine melancholy, one need only look recent cinema. There is little doubt that a dog like Merv, a scruffy terrier type played by a talented dog named Gus, would have a hard time coping with divided living arrangements. If this concept an entire Christmas romance around this situation is sustainable remains debatable at best.A Familiar Formula
To its credit, Merv, written by the writing duo and directed by director Swale, makes no grand claims anything more than what it is. This is a holiday release from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the ambitions is limited. The plot proves to be straightforward: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their individual funk is rivaled only by their dog's, embark on a therapeutic trip to a luxury pet hotel. At this location, predictably, they will presumably rediscover the idea that they should reunite. Side characters – featuring familiar faces – serve as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Its aesthetic carries the feel of a platform's in-house production, with a wintry atmosphere that is visibly contrived – as seen in obvious snow effects piled on verdant foliage as a warm climate substitutes for a wintery Boston.
The Dog's Domain
Whether these standard ingredients coalesce into something enjoyable 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 seek out for cute animal clips. The film delivers a wealth of scenes focused on the pet. The central draw is the canine star, and even if it causes some awkward editing between the pet's "lines" and people's faces, the movie does offer canine party antics, dog depression, and, finally, doggie joy.
The Human Element
Such effectiveness is not earned for the interpersonal drama. The film's approach vacillates between emotional depth, zany antics, predictable love story, and outright slapstick, not quite landing any one mode. This is not Charlie Cox, who is admirably committed the silliness and cringe required by the unusual premise. Cox exhibits a endearing lack of ego that provides much of the film's charm for this seemingly ideal couple. Her co-star Deschanel, in her typical fashion, brings a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. The character comes across as a little too aloof, notably when contrasted against Cox's vulnerable performance. (On another note, the canine performer succeeds in flopping and whining – not quite the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he is still a scene-stealer.)
The film attempts to give weight to the central romance for sequences focusing solely on them – which is unfortunate, given that the title character is easily the cutest element of this feel-good picture. As one might predict, it just about gets by. The catalyst for their separation might seem more adult and realistic with more screen time and less blunt explanation. In the end, Merv is gentle and pleasant, fulfilling all its marks. Creating a movie about dog co-parenting has potential – even if it's hardly a stroke of genius.
- Merv becomes available on the Amazon platform this December.
