It is a common warning in certain circles that jointly caring for a pet following a split is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such setups hinder individuals from finding closure, cause practical headaches, fuel disputes, and are a nuisance for everyone involved. Apparently, as a development fit for a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause our furry friends to experience sadness.
Without minimizing the mental health of animals – countless people observe their remarkable empathy. If you need masterclass in canine melancholy, consider recent cinema. It seems certain that a dog such as Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix played by a talented dog named Gus, would find it difficult adapting to divided living arrangements. Whether this premise a full holiday film on such a setup holds water is rather doubtful.A Familiar Formula
To its credit, Merv, written by its screenwriters and directed by playwright Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims more profound than what it is. This is a Christmas movie from a corporate studio – the depth are modest. The plot unfolds as uncomplicated: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their own sadness is surpassed by their dog's, decide on a cheer-up vacation to a dog-friendly resort. Once there, as expected, they will surely stumble toward the idea that they are better together. The supporting cast – played by Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – fulfill roles eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. The film's look carries the feel of a platform's in-house production, with a Christmas setting that is visibly contrived – as seen in flurries surrounding green trees as a warm climate doubles as the Northeast.
The Dog's Domain
If these predictable parts merge into an entertaining watch depends on the strength of the performances and one's taste for comfort viewing. On the latter point, Merv knows its audience – those people who seek out for pet content. Audiences receive a wealth of scenes focused on the pet. The primary selling point is the dog, and though it results in some clunky cuts between animal action and people's faces, the movie delivers on dog beach fun, canine sorrow, and, ultimately, pure puppy happiness.
The Human Element
The same praise is not earned for the human side of the story. Its style vacillates between serious study, wacky comedy, standard rom-com beats, and physical comedy, failing to master a single genre. The fault lies not with Charlie Cox, who is fully game the humiliating and funny demanded of the bizarre setting. His performance contains a endearing lack of ego that offers much of the film's charm for this seemingly ideal couple. Her co-star Deschanel, as is her trademark, imparts a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna can feel a little too aloof, notably when paired with Cox's vulnerable performance. (On another note, Gus the Dog succeeds in acting depressed – while no Messi from that acclaimed drama, he's definitely an excellent dog.)
Merv tries to add substance to Anna and Russ's relationship for sequences focusing solely on them – which is unfortunate, given that the title character is easily the most adorable aspect of this cute-aiming movie. As one might predict, it achieves only baseline competence. The catalyst for their separation might seem more nuanced with less exposition and more subtle storytelling. Ultimately, Merv is gentle and pleasant, meeting every expected note. Creating a movie with this canine conflict has potential – but it's not exactly a great one either.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video on December 10th.
