It is a common warning in certain circles that co-parenting a dog post-separation is a terrible idea. Experts frequently claim such setups hinder individuals from finding closure, create logistical nightmares, lead to tension, and prove frustrating for everyone involved. Apparently, in a revelation fit for a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to the canine in question to become depressed.
Without minimizing the inner life of our pets – countless people observe their profound sensitivity. If you need standout portrayal in canine melancholy, simply recall a past film. It seems certain that a dog of Merv's nature, a scruffy terrier type brought to life by the canine actor Gus, would struggle coping with divided living arrangements. Whether this premise a full holiday film around this situation is sustainable is a questionable prospect.Predictable Foundations
To its credit, Merv, crafted by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and helmed by playwright Jessica Swale, never aspires to be deeper than its premise. We have here a seasonal offering from a corporate studio – the depth is limited. The plot proves to be uncomplicated: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their individual funk is matched by their dog's, decide on a cheer-up vacation to a dog-friendly resort. There, inevitably, they will surely rediscover the idea that they should reunite. Ensemble players – played by a group of comedic actors – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually carries the feel of a streaming service original, with a Christmas setting that is obviously artificial – exemplified by obvious snow effects clinging to lush pines as a summer location stands in for a wintery Boston.
Where the Film Shines
How these standard ingredients coalesce into an entertaining watch depends on the actors' work and the viewer's appetite for cinematic comfort food. For the comfort factor, Merv hones in on a demographic – the kind who scroll endlessly for pet content. The film delivers a series of scenes focused on the pet. The primary selling point is the dog, and though it results in some awkward editing between animal action and the actors' responses, the movie succeeds in showing walking sequences, canine sorrow, and, finally, doggie joy.
The Human Element
Such effectiveness cannot be applied for the human side of the story. Its style wavers between relationship drama, wacky comedy, predictable love story, and outright slapstick, not quite landing any one mode. This is not Cox's performance, who is fully game the humiliating and funny inherent in the unusual premise. Cox exhibits a charming humility that supplies a significant portion of the appeal for this seemingly ideal couple. Zooey Deschanel, in her typical fashion, injects a particular brand of eccentricity that will be to your taste or not. The character seems a little too aloof, particularly when alongside Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (It should be noted, the canine performer succeeds in flopping and whining – while no Messi from that acclaimed drama, he remains a very good boy.)
The story strives to add substance to Anna and Russ's relationship for sequences focusing solely on them – a bit of a pity, since the dog is easily the best part of this feel-good picture. As one might predict, it achieves only baseline competence. The cause for their original breakup would feel more adult and realistic with greater exploration and more subtle storytelling. In the end, Merv is light and sugary, meeting all its marks. Making a film with this canine conflict is not terrible – though it's not exactly a great one either.
- Merv streams on the Amazon platform starting December 10.
