It is a widely held belief for numerous people that sharing custody a dog following a split is ill-advised. Most will argue such setups prevent individuals from finding closure, cause practical headaches, fuel disputes, and become annoying across the board. As it turns out, and in a twist suited to a direct-to-platform film, it also makes the canine in question to experience sadness.
Not to downplay the inner life of animals – pet parents attest to their remarkable empathy. For a prime example in canine melancholy, consider a past film. It seems certain that a dog like Merv, a spirited little dog portrayed by a talented dog named Gus, would have a hard time adjusting to divided living arrangements. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom around this situation is sustainable is debatable at best.Standard Holiday Fare
Honestly, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and helmed by director Swale, never aspires to be deeper than what it is. This is a Christmas movie from a corporate studio – the ambitions are modest. Its storyline proves to be straightforward: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their individual funk is matched by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. At this location, predictably, they will undoubtedly realize the idea that they should reunite. Side characters – featuring familiar faces – are crafted as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Visually carries the feel of a streaming service original, with a holiday backdrop that is obviously artificial – as seen in fake snow surrounding lush pines as North Carolina doubles as a cold December city.
The Dog's Domain
Whether these familiar elements come together into something enjoyable hinges on the actors' work and an acceptance of cinematic comfort food. For the comfort factor, Merv knows its audience – individuals who seek out for pet content. The film delivers a plethora of canine-centric sequences. The main attraction is the canine star, and though it results in some clunky cuts between what the dog does and human reaction, the movie does offer dog beach fun, canine sorrow, and, finally, pure puppy happiness.
The Two-Legged Cast
Such effectiveness is not earned for the human side of the story. The film's approach shifts uneasily between serious study, broad humor, formulaic romance, and outright slapstick, not quite landing a consistent feel. No blame falls on Cox's performance, who is admirably committed the absurd and awkward inherent in the dog resort scenario. He brings a likable self-deprecation that provides the bulk of the chemistry for this ostensibly perfect couple. Zooey Deschanel, as is her trademark, imparts a distinctive offbeat energy that will click for some but not others. Her portrayal comes across as a little too aloof, notably when alongside Cox's vulnerable performance. (It should be noted, the canine performer is convincing at looking despondent – he may not be a canine thespian of that caliber, he is still an excellent dog.)
The story strives to provide depth to Anna and Russ's relationship for moments when the dog is absent – a bit of a pity, considering Merv is undoubtedly the most adorable aspect of this film designed for charm. As one might predict, it meets the bare minimum. The cause for their original breakup could have been more adult and realistic with less exposition and fewer direct statements. As it stands, Merv is gentle and pleasant, hitting all its marks. Creating a movie with this canine conflict isn't a bad idea – even if it's hardly a stroke of genius.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video on December 10th.
