It is a widely held belief among many that jointly caring for a canine companion following a split is ill-advised. Most will argue such arrangements impede individuals from healing, lead to scheduling chaos, spark arguments, and are a nuisance across the board. Apparently, and in a twist fit for a streaming movie, it also makes the dogs themselves to experience sadness.
While respecting the emotional well-being of dogs – pet parents attest to their profound sensitivity. If you need masterclass in canine melancholy, simply recall recent cinema. It seems certain that a dog such as Merv, a scruffy terrier type played by Gus the Dog, would struggle adapting to life in two homes. If this concept a full holiday film around this situation works effectively is rather doubtful.Predictable Foundations
To its credit, Merv, the work of Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and under the guidance of director Swale, never aspires to be deeper than its premise. This is a holiday release from a corporate studio – the complexity are modest. The narrative unfolds as simple and direct: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their individual funk is matched by their dog's, embark on a cheer-up vacation to a canine-centric retreat. There, inevitably, they will surely rediscover the idea that they belong with each other. Ensemble players – featuring a group of comedic actors – are crafted as the usual assortment of types. Visually is reminiscent of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is visibly contrived – as seen in fake snow piled on verdant foliage as North Carolina substitutes for a cold December city.
Where the Film Shines
Whether these familiar elements merge into something enjoyable depends on the execution and the viewer's appetite for comfort viewing. Regarding the second aspect, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who scroll endlessly for pet content. The film delivers a wealth of canine-centric sequences. The central draw is the canine star, and while this leads to some awkward editing between animal action and human reaction, the movie does offer canine party antics, canine sorrow, and, ultimately, a tail-wagging resolution.
Where It Wobbles
Such effectiveness cannot be applied for the human side of the story. Its style vacillates between relationship drama, broad humor, predictable love story, and silly gags, not quite landing any one mode. No blame falls on Cox's performance, who is admirably committed the absurd and awkward inherent in the bizarre setting. He brings a likable self-deprecation that provides a significant portion of the appeal for this seemingly ideal couple. Anna's portrayer, as is her trademark, imparts a certain millennial quirkiness that will click for some but not others. The character can feel a little too aloof, particularly when paired with Cox's genuine sadness. (On another note, Gus the Dog is convincing at looking despondent – while no the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he is still an excellent dog.)
The film attempts to give weight to Anna and Russ's relationship for moments when the dog is absent – a regrettable choice, given that the dog is easily the cutest element of this cute-aiming movie. As one might predict, it meets the bare minimum. The reason for their original breakup might seem more grounded and mature with greater exploration and more subtle storytelling. In the end, Merv is slight and sweet, hitting precisely what you anticipate. Making a film on this shared-custody premise has potential – even if it's hardly a brilliant concept.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video on December 10th.
