It is a common warning for numerous people that sharing custody a canine companion post-separation is ill-advised. Most will argue such setups impede former couples from healing, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and prove frustrating for everyone involved. As it turns out, in a revelation suited to a direct-to-platform film, it also makes our furry friends to become depressed.
Not to downplay the mental health of dogs – pet parents observe their remarkable empathy. To witness a masterclass in dog sorrow, simply recall another performance. There is little doubt that a dog like Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix brought to life by the canine actor Gus, would struggle adjusting to life in two homes. Whether this premise a full holiday film on such a setup holds water is rather doubtful.A Familiar Formula
Fairness demands noting, Merv, crafted by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and under the guidance of Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims more profound than its premise. This is a holiday release from a streaming platform giant – the ambitions is limited. Its storyline proves to be straightforward: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their post-breakup gloom is surpassed by their dog's, decide on a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. There, inevitably, they will surely rediscover the idea that they are better together. Side characters – including familiar faces – serve as the usual assortment of types. Its aesthetic has the quality of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is clearly manufactured – as seen in fake snow clinging to lush pines as a warm climate stands in for a wintery Boston.
The Canine Charisma
How these predictable parts coalesce into something enjoyable rests upon the actors' work and the viewer's appetite for cinematic comfort food. For the comfort factor, Merv hones in on a demographic – individuals who browse regularly for dog videos. It provides a wealth of adorable dog montages. The main attraction is the dog, and though it results in some awkward editing between animal action and human reaction, the movie does offer walking sequences, dog depression, and, finally, a tail-wagging resolution.
Where It Wobbles
Such effectiveness cannot be applied for the romantic plot. Its style vacillates between relationship drama, wacky comedy, standard rom-com beats, and physical comedy, failing to master a consistent feel. This is not Charlie Cox, who is fully game the absurd and awkward demanded of the dog resort scenario. Cox exhibits a endearing lack of ego that provides the bulk of the chemistry for this ostensibly perfect couple. Her co-star Deschanel, in her typical fashion, imparts a certain millennial quirkiness that will click for some but not others. The character seems a bit too dry, particularly when alongside Cox's vulnerable performance. (On another note, Gus the Dog manages looking despondent – while no the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he's definitely a very good boy.)
The story strives to provide depth to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – which is unfortunate, given that the title character is by far the cutest element of this film designed for charm. As one might predict, it achieves only baseline competence. The catalyst for their original breakup might seem more nuanced with more screen time and fewer direct statements. Ultimately, Merv is slight and sweet, fulfilling precisely what you anticipate. Creating a movie with this canine conflict is not terrible – but it's hardly a brilliant concept.
- Merv streams on Prime Video this December.
