It is a common warning in certain circles that jointly caring for a canine companion after a breakup is a recipe for trouble. The consensus suggests such situations hinder ex-partners from healing, create logistical nightmares, fuel disputes, and are a nuisance for everyone involved. Apparently, and in a twist fit for a direct-to-platform film, it also makes our furry friends to feel down.
Without minimizing the emotional well-being of dogs – countless people attest to their profound sensitivity. If you need standout portrayal in canine melancholy, consider another performance. I firmly believe that a dog like Merv, a scruffy terrier type portrayed by the canine actor Gus, would find it difficult coping with split households. Whether this premise an entire Christmas romance on such a setup works effectively remains rather doubtful.Predictable Foundations
To its credit, Merv, crafted by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and directed by director Swale, makes no grand claims deeper than a light film. It functions as a holiday release from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the complexity is limited. Its storyline proves to be uncomplicated: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their post-breakup gloom is matched by their dog's, embark on a uplifting getaway to a dog-friendly resort. There, inevitably, they will presumably stumble toward the idea that they are better together. Side characters – including familiar faces – fulfill roles the usual assortment of types. The film's look carries the feel of a branded content, with a holiday backdrop that is clearly manufactured – as seen in flurries piled on green trees as North Carolina stands in for the Northeast.
Where the Film Shines
How these familiar elements come together into something enjoyable hinges on the execution and an acceptance of easy entertainment. On the latter point, Merv hones in on a demographic – individuals who seek out for pet content. The film delivers a plethora of scenes focused on the pet. The primary selling point is the dog, and though it results in some stilted moments between animal action and human reaction, the movie delivers on canine party antics, dog depression, and, in the end, doggie joy.
The Human Element
The same praise is not earned for the romantic plot. The tone vacillates between relationship drama, wacky comedy, formulaic romance, and outright slapstick, failing to master a consistent feel. This is not Cox's performance, who is willing to embrace the humiliating and funny required by the dog resort scenario. Cox exhibits a endearing lack of ego that offers the bulk of the chemistry for this seemingly ideal couple. Anna's portrayer, as is her trademark, imparts a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna seems a touch too detached, particularly when contrasted against Cox's genuine sadness. (It should be noted, Gus the Dog is convincing at flopping and whining – while no a canine thespian of that caliber, he's definitely a scene-stealer.)
The story strives to add substance to Anna and Russ's relationship for sequences focusing solely on them – a regrettable choice, since Merv is by far the best part of this cute-aiming movie. Unsurprisingly, it just about gets by. The reason for their separation might seem more nuanced with greater exploration and more subtle storytelling. As it stands, Merv is slight and sweet, hitting precisely what you anticipate. Creating a movie about dog co-parenting has potential – though it's not exactly a great one either.
- Merv streams on the Amazon platform this December.
