It is a widely held belief for numerous people that jointly caring for a dog following a split is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such arrangements prevent former couples from finding closure, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and become annoying across the board. Seemingly, as a development worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause the dogs themselves to experience sadness.
Without minimizing the mental health of dogs – many owners observe their remarkable empathy. To witness a prime example in dog sorrow, consider a past film. It seems certain that a dog like Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix portrayed by Gus the Dog, would struggle adjusting to split households. The idea of basing a full holiday film on such a setup holds water is rather doubtful.Predictable Foundations
Fairness demands noting, Merv, the work of the writing duo and directed by playwright Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims more profound than its premise. This is a Christmas movie from a streaming platform giant – the complexity are modest. The plot is destined to be simple and direct: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their own sadness is rivaled only by their dog's, take a therapeutic trip to a luxury pet hotel. At this location, predictably, they will presumably rediscover the idea that they belong with each other. Side characters – including a group of comedic actors – fulfill roles eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Visually carries the feel of a streaming service original, with a Christmas setting that is visibly contrived – as seen in obvious snow effects piled on lush pines as a summer location doubles as a wintery Boston.
Where the Film Shines
Whether these standard ingredients merge into a pleasant experience rests upon the actors' work and one's taste for cinematic comfort food. For the comfort factor, Merv hones in on a demographic – the kind who seek out for cute animal clips. The film delivers a wealth of canine-centric sequences. The main attraction is the dog, and though it results in some clunky cuts between animal action and human reaction, the movie succeeds in showing canine party antics, pet moping, and, finally, doggie joy.
The Two-Legged Cast
The same praise cannot be applied for the human side of the story. Its style vacillates between relationship drama, zany antics, formulaic romance, and outright slapstick, failing to master a single genre. The fault lies not with the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the humiliating and funny inherent in the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a endearing lack of ego that provides a significant portion of the appeal for this ostensibly perfect couple. Zooey Deschanel, true to her usual style, imparts a distinctive offbeat energy that will either resonate with viewers. Her portrayal seems a little too aloof, notably when alongside Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (It should be noted, the canine performer manages looking despondent – he may not be a canine thespian of that caliber, he remains an excellent dog.)
The film attempts to give weight to the couple's history for moments when the dog is absent – a bit of a pity, given that the title character is undoubtedly the best part of this feel-good picture. Unsurprisingly, it just about gets by. The reason for their separation might seem more grounded and mature with more screen time and less blunt explanation. In the end, Merv is gentle and pleasant, fulfilling every expected note. Creating a movie on this shared-custody premise has potential – but it's not exactly a stroke of genius.
- Merv premieres on the Amazon platform this December.
