This is a widely held belief for numerous people that co-parenting a canine companion post-separation is a terrible idea. Most will argue such arrangements prevent individuals from moving forward, lead to scheduling chaos, spark arguments, and become annoying across the board. Apparently, as a development worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to the canine in question to become depressed.
While respecting the emotional well-being of animals – pet parents speak of their profound sensitivity. To witness a standout portrayal in pet despair, simply recall another performance. There is little doubt that a dog such as Merv, a spirited little dog brought to life by Gus the Dog, would struggle coping with life in two homes. If this concept an entire Christmas romance on such a setup works effectively remains a questionable prospect.Standard Holiday Fare
To its credit, Merv, the work of its screenwriters and directed by director Swale, never aspires to be deeper than what it is. We have here a holiday release from a streaming platform giant – the complexity are modest. The narrative proves to be simple and direct: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their post-breakup gloom is surpassed by their dog's, embark on a cheer-up vacation to a canine-centric retreat. Once there, as expected, they will presumably rediscover the idea that they are better together. The supporting cast – played by familiar faces – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. The film's look carries the feel of a platform's in-house production, with a wintry atmosphere that is clearly manufactured – think fake snow clinging to verdant foliage as North Carolina doubles as the Northeast.
The Canine Charisma
Whether these standard ingredients coalesce into a pleasant experience rests upon the execution and an acceptance of cinematic comfort food. For the comfort factor, Merv knows its audience – those people who browse regularly for cute animal clips. Audiences receive a wealth of scenes focused on the pet. The primary selling point is the canine star, and though it results in some stilted moments between the pet's "lines" and the actors' responses, the movie does offer canine party antics, pet moping, and, ultimately, a tail-wagging resolution.
Where It Wobbles
This level of success does not extend for the romantic plot. Its style vacillates between emotional depth, zany antics, predictable love story, and silly gags, failing to master a single genre. This is not Charlie Cox, who is fully game the humiliating and funny inherent in the bizarre setting. Cox exhibits a likable self-deprecation that offers a significant portion of the appeal for this seemingly ideal couple. Anna's portrayer, in her typical fashion, brings a distinctive offbeat energy that will click for some but not others. Her portrayal can feel a touch too detached, notably when alongside Cox's genuine sadness. (For what it's worth, Merv himself is convincing at looking despondent – not quite Messi from that acclaimed drama, he is still a scene-stealer.)
The film attempts to give weight to Anna and Russ's relationship for sequences focusing solely on them – a bit of a pity, considering the title character is easily the best part of this cute-aiming movie. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The cause for their separation could have been more nuanced with greater exploration and more subtle storytelling. Ultimately, Merv is slight and sweet, hitting every expected note. Creating a movie with this canine conflict is not terrible – but it's hardly a stroke of genius.
- Merv becomes available on the Amazon platform on December 10th.
