This is an often-repeated piece of advice among many that sharing custody a pet following a split is a recipe for trouble. Most will argue such setups impede individuals from finding closure, lead to scheduling chaos, lead to tension, and prove frustrating across the board. Seemingly, in a revelation worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it also makes our furry friends to experience sadness.
While respecting the inner life of dogs – many owners attest to their profound sensitivity. If you need prime example in canine melancholy, simply recall a past film. I firmly believe that a dog of Merv's nature, a spirited little dog portrayed by Gus the Dog, would struggle adapting to divided living arrangements. The idea of basing a full holiday film on this conflict holds water seems rather doubtful.Predictable Foundations
Honestly, Merv, written by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and helmed by Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims anything more than its premise. It functions as a seasonal offering from a corporate studio – the ambitions remains surface-level. The narrative is destined to be simple and direct: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their individual funk is matched by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a dog-friendly resort. Once there, as expected, they will undoubtedly stumble toward the idea that they are better together. The supporting cast – including familiar faces – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually has the quality of a streaming service original, with a Christmas setting that is obviously artificial – as seen in flurries surrounding verdant foliage as a warm climate doubles as a cold December city.
The Canine Charisma
If these familiar elements merge into something enjoyable rests upon the actors' work and an acceptance of comfort viewing. Regarding the second aspect, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who scroll endlessly for pet content. Audiences receive a series of canine-centric sequences. The central draw is the canine star, and even if it causes some stilted moments between what the dog does and people's faces, the movie succeeds in showing walking sequences, dog depression, and, finally, doggie joy.
The Human Element
The same praise cannot be applied for the romantic plot. Its style vacillates between emotional depth, broad humor, predictable love story, and outright slapstick, never fully committing to any one mode. This is not Cox's performance, who is willing to embrace the humiliating and funny required by the bizarre setting. He brings a charming humility that provides much of the film's charm for this ostensibly perfect couple. Anna's portrayer, as is her trademark, brings a particular brand of eccentricity that will either resonate with viewers. Her Anna comes across as a bit too dry, notably when contrasted against Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (For what it's worth, Gus the Dog succeeds in flopping and whining – while no Messi from that acclaimed drama, he remains a scene-stealer.)
The film attempts to add substance to the central romance for scenes without their pet – a regrettable choice, given that Merv is undoubtedly the best part of this feel-good picture. Expectedly, it achieves only baseline competence. The cause for their separation might seem more adult and realistic with more screen time and fewer direct statements. In the end, Merv is light and sugary, meeting precisely what you anticipate. Creating a movie with this canine conflict has potential – even if it's hardly a brilliant concept.
- Merv becomes available on Amazon Prime Video this December.
