This is a common warning among many that sharing custody a canine companion after a breakup is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such arrangements hinder ex-partners from finding closure, create logistical nightmares, lead to tension, and prove frustrating for everyone involved. Seemingly, in a revelation fit for a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause the canine in question to feel down.
Without minimizing the mental health of our pets – pet parents speak of their deep emotional capacity. If you need prime example in dog sorrow, consider recent cinema. There is little doubt that a dog like Merv, a spirited little dog portrayed by Gus the Dog, would have a hard time coping with divided living arrangements. Whether this premise a full holiday film on this conflict is sustainable is debatable at best.Standard Holiday Fare
Honestly, Merv, written by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and under the guidance of director Swale, makes no grand claims deeper than a light film. This is a seasonal offering from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the depth is limited. Its storyline proves to be simple and direct: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their individual funk is surpassed by their dog's, take a uplifting getaway to a canine-centric retreat. Once there, as expected, they will surely rediscover the idea that they should reunite. Ensemble players – including Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – fulfill roles the usual assortment of types. Its aesthetic carries the feel of a platform's in-house production, with a wintry atmosphere that is visibly contrived – think obvious snow effects piled on green trees as a warm climate stands in for a wintery Boston.
The Canine Charisma
Whether these predictable parts coalesce into an entertaining watch depends on the strength of the performances and one's taste for cinematic comfort food. Regarding the second aspect, Merv knows its audience – those people who seek out for pet content. The film delivers a plethora of scenes focused on the pet. The main attraction is Merv himself, and though it results in some stilted moments between the pet's "lines" and human reaction, the movie succeeds in showing canine party antics, canine sorrow, and, ultimately, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Two-Legged Cast
This level of success is not earned for the romantic plot. The film's approach vacillates between relationship drama, zany antics, standard rom-com beats, and physical comedy, never fully committing to any one mode. No blame falls on Charlie Cox, who is fully game the humiliating and funny demanded of the bizarre setting. Cox exhibits a charming humility that offers much of the film's charm for this on-the-rocks couple. Zooey Deschanel, true to her usual style, brings a certain millennial quirkiness that will click for some but not others. Her portrayal can feel a little too aloof, particularly when contrasted against Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (It should be noted, Gus the Dog succeeds in looking despondent – not quite a canine thespian of that caliber, he's definitely a very good boy.)
Merv tries to give weight to Anna and Russ's relationship for moments when the dog is absent – which is unfortunate, since the dog is undoubtedly the cutest element of this feel-good picture. Expectedly, it achieves only baseline competence. The cause for their original breakup could have been more grounded and mature with more screen time and less blunt explanation. In the end, Merv is gentle and pleasant, fulfilling precisely what you anticipate. Crafting a story about dog co-parenting has potential – even if it's not exactly a brilliant concept.
- Merv becomes available on Amazon Prime Video on December 10th.
