This is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that jointly caring for a canine companion post-separation is a recipe for trouble. Experts frequently claim such setups impede ex-partners from finding closure, lead to scheduling chaos, spark arguments, and prove frustrating across the board. As it turns out, and in a twist fit for a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause the canine in question to become depressed.
Not to downplay the inner life of our pets – many owners speak of their remarkable empathy. If you need prime example in canine melancholy, consider recent cinema. There is little doubt that a dog like Merv, a scruffy terrier type brought to life by the canine actor Gus, would find it difficult adapting to split households. Whether this premise a full holiday film around this situation is sustainable seems debatable at best.A Familiar Formula
Honestly, Merv, written by the writing duo and helmed by Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be deeper than a light film. This is a seasonal offering from a streaming platform giant – the complexity are modest. The plot proves to be straightforward: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their own sadness is rivaled only by their dog's, take a uplifting getaway to a luxury pet hotel. At this location, predictably, they will undoubtedly rediscover the idea that they should reunite. Side characters – played by Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually carries the feel of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is clearly manufactured – exemplified by flurries surrounding green trees as North Carolina substitutes for a wintery Boston.
The Canine Charisma
If these predictable parts come together into something enjoyable hinges on the execution and the viewer's appetite for comfort viewing. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who scroll endlessly for dog videos. Audiences receive a series of adorable dog montages. The main attraction is the canine star, and though it results in some clunky cuts between what the dog does and people's faces, the movie does offer dog beach fun, dog depression, and, ultimately, doggie joy.
Where It Wobbles
Such effectiveness is not earned for the human side of the story. Its style wavers between serious study, wacky comedy, standard rom-com beats, and physical comedy, failing to master a single genre. The fault lies not with Cox's performance, who is fully game the humiliating and funny required by the unusual premise. He brings a charming humility that supplies a significant portion of the appeal for this seemingly ideal couple. Her co-star Deschanel, in her typical fashion, imparts a particular brand of eccentricity that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna comes across as a touch too detached, notably when alongside Cox's genuine sadness. (On another note, the canine performer manages flopping and whining – he may not be Messi from that acclaimed drama, he is still a scene-stealer.)
The film attempts to add substance to Anna and Russ's relationship for scenes without their pet – a bit of a pity, since the dog is undoubtedly the best part of this cute-aiming movie. Expectedly, it meets the bare minimum. The cause for their original breakup might seem more grounded and mature with more screen time and more subtle storytelling. Ultimately, Merv is gentle and pleasant, hitting every expected note. Crafting a story with this canine conflict is not terrible – even if it's not exactly a stroke of genius.
- Merv becomes available on Prime Video on December 10th.
