It is a widely held belief among many that jointly caring for a canine companion following a split is ill-advised. Most will argue such arrangements hinder ex-partners from moving forward, cause practical headaches, fuel disputes, and are a nuisance for all parties. As it turns out, in a revelation fit for a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to the canine in question to become depressed.
Not to downplay the mental health of animals – pet parents attest to their remarkable empathy. To witness a prime example in pet despair, simply recall another performance. I firmly believe that a dog such as Merv, a scruffy terrier type portrayed by a talented dog named Gus, would have a hard time adapting to life in two homes. If this concept an entire Christmas romance around this situation works effectively is rather doubtful.Standard Holiday Fare
Fairness demands noting, Merv, written by its screenwriters and helmed by director Swale, makes no grand claims anything more than what it is. It functions as a holiday release from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the depth is limited. The narrative proves to be straightforward: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their post-breakup gloom is rivaled only by their dog's, embark on a uplifting getaway to a dog-friendly resort. At this location, predictably, they will presumably realize the idea that they should reunite. Side characters – played by a group of comedic actors – are crafted as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. The film's look is reminiscent of a branded content, with a holiday backdrop that is clearly manufactured – think obvious snow effects clinging to lush pines as North Carolina substitutes for a wintery Boston.
The Dog's Domain
How these familiar elements coalesce into a pleasant experience rests upon the execution and one's taste for easy entertainment. On the latter point, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who seek out for cute animal clips. The film delivers a series of canine-centric sequences. The primary selling point is the dog, and even if it causes some stilted moments between the pet's "lines" and human reaction, the movie does offer walking sequences, dog depression, and, finally, pure puppy happiness.
The Two-Legged Cast
This level of success cannot be applied for the romantic plot. The film's approach wavers between emotional depth, zany antics, standard rom-com beats, and outright slapstick, never fully committing to any one mode. No blame falls on Cox's performance, who is willing to embrace the silliness and cringe inherent in the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a charming humility that supplies the bulk of the chemistry for this seemingly ideal couple. Zooey Deschanel, true to her usual style, brings a particular brand of eccentricity that will click for some but not others. Her Anna seems a little too aloof, especially when alongside Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (For what it's worth, the canine performer is convincing at flopping and whining – he may not be Messi from that acclaimed drama, he is still a very good boy.)
Merv tries to give weight to Anna and Russ's relationship for moments when the dog is absent – a bit of a pity, since the dog is easily the most adorable aspect of this cute-aiming movie. Unsurprisingly, it achieves only baseline competence. The cause for their original breakup might seem more adult and realistic with more screen time and more subtle storytelling. In the end, Merv is light and sugary, meeting every expected note. Making a film about dog co-parenting is not terrible – but it's not exactly a stroke of genius.
- Merv becomes available on the Amazon platform on December 10th.
