It is a widely held belief for numerous people that co-parenting a dog post-separation is ill-advised. Most will argue such arrangements prevent individuals from moving forward, lead to scheduling chaos, lead to tension, and become annoying for all parties. As it turns out, as a development fit for a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to the canine in question to experience sadness.
While respecting the mental health of dogs – many owners observe their remarkable empathy. To witness a prime example in dog sorrow, simply recall recent cinema. There is little doubt that a dog such as Merv, a spirited little dog portrayed by the canine actor Gus, would struggle adjusting to divided living arrangements. Whether this premise a full holiday film around this situation holds water is a questionable prospect.Standard Holiday Fare
To its credit, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and directed by Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be deeper than a light film. It functions as a holiday release from a streaming platform giant – the ambitions are modest. The narrative unfolds as straightforward: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their post-breakup gloom is matched by their dog's, embark on a therapeutic trip to a canine-centric retreat. Once there, as expected, they will undoubtedly rediscover the idea that they belong with each other. The supporting cast – featuring a group of comedic actors – are crafted as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Visually has the quality of a platform's in-house production, with a wintry atmosphere that is visibly contrived – as seen in flurries surrounding green trees as a warm climate doubles as the Northeast.
The Canine Charisma
Whether these predictable parts come together into a pleasant experience hinges on the strength of the performances and one's taste for cinematic comfort food. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. The film delivers a plethora of adorable dog montages. The main attraction is the canine star, and though it results in some stilted moments between animal action and human reaction, the movie delivers on walking sequences, dog depression, and, ultimately, a tail-wagging resolution.
Where It Wobbles
The same praise cannot be applied for the romantic plot. The film's approach shifts uneasily between serious study, broad humor, formulaic romance, and silly gags, failing to master a consistent feel. The fault lies not with Cox's performance, who is admirably committed the humiliating and funny inherent in the bizarre setting. His performance contains a charming humility that provides the bulk of the chemistry for this seemingly ideal couple. Her co-star Deschanel, as is her trademark, brings a distinctive offbeat energy that will click for some but not others. Her Anna seems a bit too dry, especially when paired with Cox's genuine sadness. (For what it's worth, the canine performer manages flopping and whining – not quite Messi from that acclaimed drama, he is still a very good boy.)
Merv tries to add substance to Anna and Russ's relationship for scenes without their pet – a regrettable choice, since the title character is easily the cutest element of this feel-good picture. Expectedly, it meets the bare minimum. The catalyst for their original breakup could have been more nuanced with greater exploration and fewer direct statements. In the end, Merv is gentle and pleasant, hitting all its marks. Making a film on this shared-custody premise is not terrible – though it's hardly a stroke of genius.
- Merv premieres on Prime Video on December 10th.
