It is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that sharing custody a dog following a split is a recipe for trouble. The consensus suggests such arrangements prevent ex-partners from healing, lead to scheduling chaos, lead to tension, and become annoying across the board. Seemingly, in a revelation suited to a direct-to-platform film, it also makes the canine in question to become depressed.
Not to downplay the inner life of animals – many owners observe their remarkable empathy. If you need prime example in canine melancholy, one need only look another performance. There is little doubt that a dog of Merv's nature, a spirited little dog portrayed by the canine actor Gus, would struggle coping with divided living arrangements. The idea of basing an entire Christmas romance around this situation works effectively is debatable at best.Standard Holiday Fare
Fairness demands noting, Merv, written by its screenwriters and directed by Jessica Swale, never aspires to be deeper than its premise. It functions as a holiday release from a streaming platform giant – the depth is limited. The plot proves to be simple and direct: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their individual funk is rivaled only by their dog's, decide on a therapeutic trip to a canine-centric retreat. There, inevitably, they will surely realize the idea that they are better together. Ensemble players – featuring Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – fulfill roles quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic is reminiscent of a branded content, with a Christmas setting that is clearly manufactured – exemplified by flurries piled on green trees as North Carolina stands in for the Northeast.
Where the Film Shines
If these standard ingredients merge into an entertaining watch depends on the strength of the performances and one's taste for cinematic comfort food. Regarding the second aspect, Merv knows its audience – the kind who seek out for cute animal clips. The film delivers a wealth of adorable dog montages. The central draw is the canine star, and though it results in some clunky cuts between what the dog does and human reaction, the movie does offer walking sequences, pet moping, and, in the end, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Two-Legged Cast
This level of success does not extend for the human side of the story. The tone wavers between relationship drama, wacky comedy, formulaic romance, and physical comedy, never fully committing to any one mode. This is not the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the absurd and awkward demanded of the dog resort scenario. He brings a endearing lack of ego that offers a significant portion of the appeal for this seemingly ideal couple. Her co-star Deschanel, as is her trademark, brings a particular brand of eccentricity that will click for some but not others. Her Anna seems a little too aloof, particularly when alongside Cox's genuine sadness. (On another note, the canine performer succeeds in looking despondent – while no Messi from that acclaimed drama, he remains a scene-stealer.)
The film attempts to give weight to the central romance for sequences focusing solely on them – a regrettable choice, considering the title character is by far the best part of this cute-aiming movie. Expectedly, it meets the bare minimum. The cause for the split would feel more nuanced with less exposition and less blunt explanation. As it stands, Merv is slight and sweet, meeting every expected note. Making a film with this canine conflict is not terrible – even if it's hardly a stroke of genius.
- Merv becomes available on the Amazon platform on December 10th.
