It is an often-repeated piece of advice in certain circles that sharing custody a pet post-separation is a terrible idea. The consensus suggests such arrangements hinder individuals from healing, create logistical nightmares, fuel disputes, and prove frustrating for all parties. Seemingly, in a revelation suited to a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to the canine in question to become depressed.
While respecting the inner life of dogs – countless people attest to their deep emotional capacity. To witness a prime example in dog sorrow, simply recall recent cinema. It seems certain that a dog like Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix portrayed by a talented dog named Gus, would find it difficult coping with life in two homes. If this concept an entire Christmas romance on such a setup is sustainable seems rather doubtful.Standard Holiday Fare
Honestly, Merv, written by the writing duo and helmed by director Swale, doesn't pretend to be anything more than a light film. It functions as a seasonal offering from a streaming platform giant – the ambitions is limited. Its storyline is destined to be uncomplicated: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their individual funk is rivaled only by their dog's, embark on a cheer-up vacation to a dog-friendly resort. There, inevitably, they will surely stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. The supporting cast – including familiar faces – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually carries the feel of a platform's in-house production, with a wintry atmosphere that is clearly manufactured – as seen in flurries surrounding green trees as a warm climate stands in for the Northeast.
The Canine Charisma
Whether these standard ingredients come together into an entertaining watch rests upon the actors' work and an acceptance of comfort viewing. Regarding the second aspect, Merv hones in on a demographic – the kind who seek out for cute animal clips. It provides a plethora of adorable dog montages. The primary selling point is the dog, and though it results in some clunky cuts between what the dog does and people's faces, the movie does offer canine party antics, canine sorrow, and, ultimately, doggie joy.
The Human Element
The same praise cannot be applied for the human side of the story. The film's approach vacillates between serious study, broad humor, predictable love story, and outright slapstick, never fully committing to a consistent feel. No blame falls on Cox's performance, who is admirably committed the absurd and awkward inherent in the dog resort scenario. Cox exhibits a charming humility that offers the bulk of the chemistry for this ostensibly perfect couple. Zooey Deschanel, true to her usual style, brings a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna comes across as a touch too detached, notably when paired with Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (It should be noted, Merv himself is convincing at looking despondent – not quite Messi from that acclaimed drama, he remains a scene-stealer.)
The story strives to give weight to Anna and Russ's relationship for scenes without their pet – a bit of a pity, given that the title character is undoubtedly the best part of this cute-aiming movie. As one might predict, it achieves only baseline competence. The cause for their separation could have been more grounded and mature with more screen time and more subtle storytelling. Ultimately, Merv is light and sugary, fulfilling precisely what you anticipate. Crafting a story with this canine conflict has potential – even if I wouldn't call it a great one either.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video on December 10th.
