It is a widely held belief in certain circles that sharing custody a canine companion following a split is a terrible idea. Experts frequently claim such arrangements prevent former couples from healing, lead to scheduling chaos, lead to tension, and become annoying across the board. Seemingly, in a revelation worthy of a streaming movie, it also makes the canine in question to feel down.
Not to downplay the mental health of our pets – countless people speak of their profound sensitivity. For a standout portrayal in pet despair, simply recall a past film. There is little doubt that a dog such as Merv, a scruffy terrier type played by the canine actor Gus, would struggle adapting to divided living arrangements. Whether this premise an entire Christmas romance on such a setup works effectively remains a questionable prospect.Predictable Foundations
Honestly, Merv, written by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and directed by Jessica Swale, never aspires to be more profound than a light film. It functions as a Christmas movie from a corporate studio – the complexity remains surface-level. The plot unfolds as uncomplicated: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their own sadness is matched by their dog's, embark on a cheer-up vacation to a canine-centric retreat. At this location, predictably, they will presumably realize the idea that they belong with each other. Side characters – including Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – are crafted as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. The film's look carries the feel of a platform's in-house production, with a Christmas setting that is obviously artificial – as seen in flurries piled on verdant foliage as a warm climate stands in for the Northeast.
Where the Film Shines
How these standard ingredients merge into an entertaining watch depends on the strength of the performances and one's taste for cinematic comfort food. On the latter point, Merv targets a specific viewer – individuals who scroll endlessly for pet content. Audiences receive a plethora of canine-centric sequences. The central draw is the canine star, and even if it causes some stilted moments between animal action and people's faces, the movie succeeds in showing walking sequences, pet moping, and, in the end, doggie joy.
The Human Element
The same praise is not earned for the interpersonal drama. The tone wavers between relationship drama, zany antics, predictable love story, and outright slapstick, never fully committing to any one mode. The fault lies not with Cox's performance, who is willing to embrace the absurd and awkward demanded of the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a charming humility that provides much of the film's charm for this seemingly ideal couple. Anna's portrayer, true to her usual style, brings a certain millennial quirkiness that will either resonate with viewers. The character comes across as a little too aloof, especially when contrasted against Cox's genuine sadness. (It should be noted, the canine performer succeeds in acting depressed – he may not be Messi from that acclaimed drama, he remains a scene-stealer.)
Merv tries to provide depth to Anna and Russ's relationship for moments when the dog is absent – which is unfortunate, given that Merv is by far the cutest element of this film designed for charm. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The cause for the split might seem more nuanced with greater exploration and less blunt explanation. In the end, Merv is slight and sweet, hitting all its marks. Crafting a story with this canine conflict is not terrible – even if it's hardly a great one either.
- Merv premieres on Amazon Prime Video this December.
