It is a common warning for numerous people that co-parenting a canine companion after a breakup is a recipe for trouble. Most will argue such arrangements impede individuals from moving forward, create logistical nightmares, lead to tension, and are a nuisance across the board. As it turns out, in a revelation fit for a direct-to-platform film, it also makes the canine in question to feel down.
Without minimizing the emotional well-being of dogs – pet parents observe their deep emotional capacity. To witness a standout portrayal in pet despair, simply recall another performance. It seems certain that a dog like Merv, a scruffy terrier type portrayed by Gus the Dog, would struggle adapting to divided living arrangements. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom on such a setup works effectively remains rather doubtful.Standard Holiday Fare
Honestly, Merv, crafted by the writing duo and helmed by Jessica Swale, never aspires to be anything more than its premise. This is a Christmas movie from a corporate studio – the ambitions remains surface-level. The narrative unfolds as uncomplicated: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their individual funk is surpassed by their dog's, embark on a uplifting getaway to a luxury pet hotel. Once there, as expected, they will presumably stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. Ensemble players – featuring Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. The film's look is reminiscent of a branded content, with a holiday backdrop that is visibly contrived – think fake snow clinging to green trees as North Carolina doubles as a cold December city.
Where the Film Shines
Whether these familiar elements come together into a pleasant experience depends on the actors' work and one's taste for comfort viewing. On the latter point, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who seek out for cute animal clips. The film delivers a wealth of scenes focused on the pet. The main attraction is the canine star, and while this leads to some awkward editing between the pet's "lines" and people's faces, the movie delivers on canine party antics, pet moping, and, ultimately, doggie joy.
Where It Wobbles
Such effectiveness cannot be applied for the human side of the story. Its style vacillates between emotional depth, zany antics, formulaic romance, and outright slapstick, failing to master a single genre. This is not Cox's performance, who is fully game the humiliating and funny demanded of the bizarre setting. His performance contains a charming humility that provides a significant portion of the appeal for this seemingly ideal couple. Her co-star Deschanel, in her typical fashion, injects a certain millennial quirkiness that will click for some but not others. The character seems a bit too dry, notably when paired with Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (On another note, the canine performer succeeds in looking despondent – he may not be Messi from that acclaimed drama, he's definitely a scene-stealer.)
The story strives to give weight to Anna and Russ's relationship for scenes without their pet – a bit of a pity, considering the dog is easily the most adorable aspect of this feel-good picture. As one might predict, it meets the bare minimum. The cause for their separation might seem more grounded and mature with less exposition and more subtle storytelling. As it stands, Merv is gentle and pleasant, meeting all its marks. Creating a movie with this canine conflict is not terrible – but it's not exactly a brilliant concept.
- Merv premieres on Amazon Prime Video starting December 10.
