It is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that jointly caring for a canine companion post-separation is a recipe for trouble. Most will argue such situations hinder individuals from moving forward, create logistical nightmares, lead to tension, and become annoying for everyone involved. As it turns out, as a development fit for a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause our furry friends to experience sadness.
Not to downplay the inner life of dogs – countless people speak of their deep emotional capacity. For a standout portrayal in dog sorrow, one need only look a past film. I firmly believe that a dog of Merv's nature, a wired-hair terrier mix played by the canine actor Gus, would have a hard time adapting to life in two homes. If this concept a full holiday film on this conflict is sustainable seems debatable at best.Standard Holiday Fare
Fairness demands noting, Merv, written by its screenwriters and helmed by playwright Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims anything more than a light film. This is a holiday release from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the complexity are modest. The narrative is destined to be uncomplicated: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their own sadness is surpassed by their dog's, take a uplifting getaway to a dog-friendly resort. There, inevitably, they will surely realize the idea that they are better together. Side characters – including familiar faces – 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 clearly manufactured – as seen in obvious snow effects surrounding green trees as North Carolina stands in for the Northeast.
Where the Film Shines
How these familiar elements coalesce into a pleasant experience depends on the actors' work and one's taste for comfort viewing. Regarding the second aspect, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who browse regularly for pet content. The film delivers a plethora of canine-centric sequences. The primary selling point is the canine star, and though it results in some clunky cuts between animal action and the actors' responses, the movie succeeds in showing walking sequences, dog depression, and, finally, pure puppy happiness.
Where It Wobbles
The same praise cannot be applied for the human side of the story. The film's approach shifts uneasily between relationship drama, broad humor, standard rom-com beats, and silly gags, failing to master a consistent feel. The fault lies not with the actor playing Russ, who is admirably committed the absurd and awkward demanded of the dog resort scenario. He brings a charming humility that supplies a significant portion of the appeal for this on-the-rocks couple. Anna's portrayer, as is her trademark, brings a certain millennial quirkiness that will either resonate with viewers. The character can feel a bit too dry, especially when contrasted against Cox's genuine sadness. (For what it's worth, the canine performer is convincing at flopping and whining – not quite the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he is still a very good boy.)
The story strives to add substance to the central romance for sequences focusing solely on them – a bit of a pity, given that the title character is easily the most adorable aspect of this cute-aiming movie. Unsurprisingly, it achieves only baseline competence. The cause for their original breakup could have been more adult and realistic with greater exploration and fewer direct statements. In the end, Merv is gentle and pleasant, hitting precisely what you anticipate. Crafting a story on this shared-custody premise has potential – though I wouldn't call it a brilliant concept.
- Merv becomes available on the Amazon platform on December 10th.
