This is a widely held belief for numerous people that jointly caring for a dog post-separation is a recipe for trouble. The consensus suggests such situations prevent former couples from healing, create logistical nightmares, fuel disputes, and become annoying across the board. Apparently, in a revelation suited to a streaming movie, it also makes our furry friends to experience sadness.
Without minimizing the mental health of our pets – many owners attest to their deep emotional capacity. If you need prime example in pet despair, consider another performance. There is little doubt 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 full holiday film on such a setup is sustainable is a questionable prospect.Standard Holiday Fare
Honestly, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and helmed by director Swale, never aspires to be anything more than its premise. It functions as a holiday release from a corporate studio – the complexity remains surface-level. The plot proves to be uncomplicated: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their own sadness is matched by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a dog-friendly resort. There, inevitably, they will surely realize the idea that they are better together. The supporting cast – played by a group of comedic actors – are crafted as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Its aesthetic has the quality of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is clearly manufactured – as seen in flurries clinging to green trees as a warm climate doubles as the Northeast.
The Dog's Domain
If these familiar elements coalesce into an entertaining watch rests upon the strength of the performances and the viewer's appetite for cinematic comfort food. For the comfort factor, Merv hones in on a demographic – those people who browse regularly for dog videos. It provides a wealth of canine-centric sequences. The central draw is the dog, and though it results in some awkward editing between the pet's "lines" and the actors' responses, the movie does offer canine party antics, pet moping, and, ultimately, doggie joy.
Where It Wobbles
Such effectiveness does not extend for the romantic plot. Its style wavers between serious study, zany antics, predictable love story, and outright slapstick, failing to master any one mode. The fault lies not with Cox's performance, who is admirably committed the humiliating and funny required by the dog resort scenario. Cox exhibits a endearing lack of ego that supplies a significant portion of the appeal for this seemingly ideal couple. Her co-star Deschanel, as is her trademark, brings a distinctive offbeat energy that will either resonate with viewers. Her Anna can feel a touch too detached, especially when contrasted against Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (For what it's worth, Merv himself manages acting depressed – while no the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he is still a very good boy.)
The story strives to provide depth to the central romance for sequences focusing solely on them – a bit of a pity, given that Merv is easily the most adorable aspect of this film designed for charm. Unsurprisingly, it just about gets by. The reason for their separation would feel more nuanced with more screen time and less blunt explanation. Ultimately, Merv is slight and sweet, meeting precisely what you anticipate. Creating a movie on this shared-custody premise isn't a bad idea – but I wouldn't call it a great one either.
- Merv becomes available on Amazon Prime Video starting December 10.
