It is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that jointly caring for a canine companion post-separation is a terrible idea. The consensus suggests such setups impede ex-partners from healing, lead to scheduling chaos, spark arguments, and become annoying for everyone involved. Seemingly, in a revelation suited to a streaming movie, it can even cause the dogs themselves to feel down.
Without minimizing the mental health of dogs – pet parents observe their deep emotional capacity. If you need masterclass in canine melancholy, simply recall another performance. It seems certain that a dog such as Merv, a spirited little dog played by the canine actor Gus, would struggle coping with divided living arrangements. If this concept a full holiday film on this conflict holds water remains a questionable prospect.Standard Holiday Fare
Fairness demands noting, Merv, the work of its screenwriters and directed by Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims anything more than what it is. It functions as a Christmas movie from a corporate studio – the depth are modest. The plot is destined to be simple and direct: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their post-breakup gloom is surpassed by their dog's, take a therapeutic trip to a luxury pet hotel. Once there, as expected, they will presumably rediscover the idea that they are better together. Side characters – played by Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – are crafted as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Its aesthetic is reminiscent of a platform's in-house production, with a wintry atmosphere that is visibly contrived – exemplified by fake snow piled on verdant foliage as North Carolina doubles as a wintery Boston.
The Canine Charisma
Whether these familiar elements merge into something enjoyable hinges on the actors' work and an acceptance of easy entertainment. On the latter point, Merv knows its audience – those people who seek out for cute animal clips. The film delivers a series of scenes focused on the pet. The main attraction is Merv himself, and while this leads to some awkward editing between what the dog does and people's faces, the movie does offer canine party antics, pet moping, and, finally, doggie joy.
The Human Element
This level of success does not extend for the romantic plot. The film's approach shifts uneasily between relationship drama, broad humor, predictable love story, and outright slapstick, failing to master a consistent feel. No blame falls on Charlie Cox, who is willing to embrace the silliness and cringe required by the bizarre setting. Cox exhibits a likable self-deprecation that provides a significant portion of the appeal for this ostensibly perfect couple. Anna's portrayer, in her typical fashion, brings a particular brand of eccentricity that will be to your taste or not. The character seems a little too aloof, particularly when paired with Cox's genuine sadness. (For what it's worth, Gus the Dog manages looking despondent – not quite a canine thespian of that caliber, he is still a scene-stealer.)
The story strives to add substance to the couple's history for scenes without their pet – which is unfortunate, given that Merv is by far the cutest element of this film designed for charm. As one might predict, it meets the bare minimum. The reason for the split could have been more nuanced with more screen time and fewer direct statements. As it stands, Merv is light and sugary, hitting precisely what you anticipate. Creating a movie on this shared-custody premise has potential – but it's not exactly a great one either.
- Merv premieres on Amazon Prime Video starting December 10.
