It is a common warning among many that jointly caring for a canine companion following a split is a recipe for trouble. Most will argue such arrangements impede ex-partners from finding closure, cause practical headaches, fuel disputes, and are a nuisance across the board. As it turns out, in a revelation worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to our furry friends to feel down.
Without minimizing the emotional well-being of animals – many owners speak of their deep emotional capacity. If you need masterclass in pet despair, one need only look a past film. I firmly believe that a dog like Merv, a scruffy terrier type brought to life by Gus the Dog, would find it difficult coping with split households. If this concept an entire Christmas romance on such a setup holds water remains debatable at best.Predictable Foundations
To its credit, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and helmed by playwright Jessica Swale, never aspires to be more profound than its premise. It functions as a seasonal offering from a corporate studio – the complexity remains surface-level. The plot proves to be straightforward: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their individual funk is surpassed by their dog's, take a therapeutic trip to a canine-centric retreat. At this location, predictably, they will surely realize the idea that they should reunite. The supporting cast – including a group of comedic actors – fulfill roles the usual assortment of types. Visually has the quality of a branded content, with a holiday backdrop that is clearly manufactured – exemplified by fake snow surrounding verdant foliage as a warm climate substitutes for a wintery Boston.
The Canine Charisma
If these predictable parts coalesce into a pleasant experience depends on the actors' work and one's taste for easy entertainment. On the latter point, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who scroll endlessly for dog videos. Audiences receive a wealth of adorable dog montages. The central draw is the canine star, and though it results in some awkward editing between what the dog does and people's faces, the movie succeeds in showing canine party antics, 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, wacky comedy, standard rom-com beats, and silly gags, never fully committing to a consistent feel. The fault lies not with Charlie Cox, who is willing to embrace the absurd and awkward required by the dog resort scenario. Cox exhibits a likable self-deprecation that supplies a significant portion of the appeal for this ostensibly perfect couple. Zooey Deschanel, in her typical fashion, injects a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna seems a little too aloof, notably when contrasted against Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (It should be noted, the canine performer succeeds in acting depressed – not quite the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he is still a very good boy.)
The story strives to provide depth to the couple's history for moments when the dog is absent – a bit of a pity, considering the title character is undoubtedly the best part of this cute-aiming movie. Unsurprisingly, it just about gets by. The reason for their separation might seem more nuanced with more screen time and more subtle storytelling. Ultimately, Merv is gentle and pleasant, fulfilling every expected note. Making a film on this shared-custody premise has potential – but I wouldn't call it a great one either.
- Merv becomes available on Amazon Prime Video this December.
