It is a widely held belief in certain circles that sharing custody a canine companion post-separation is a recipe for trouble. Most will argue such situations prevent ex-partners from healing, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and prove frustrating for all parties. Apparently, in a revelation suited to a direct-to-platform film, it also makes the dogs themselves to experience sadness.
Without minimizing the emotional well-being of animals – countless people speak of their remarkable empathy. If you need standout portrayal in canine melancholy, simply recall another performance. It seems certain that a dog such as Merv, a scruffy terrier type portrayed by Gus the Dog, would struggle coping with split households. The idea of basing a full holiday film on such a setup is sustainable seems a questionable prospect.Predictable Foundations
Fairness demands noting, Merv, crafted by the writing duo and helmed by director Swale, makes no grand claims more profound than what it is. This is a seasonal offering from a streaming platform giant – the complexity remains surface-level. Its storyline proves to be straightforward: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their post-breakup gloom is matched by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a canine-centric retreat. Once there, as expected, they will presumably realize the idea that they are better together. Side characters – featuring familiar faces – serve as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Its aesthetic has the quality of a branded content, with a wintry atmosphere that is obviously artificial – exemplified by flurries clinging to green trees as North Carolina stands in for the Northeast.
Where the Film Shines
How these predictable parts coalesce into a pleasant experience hinges on the actors' work and the viewer's appetite for easy entertainment. On the latter point, Merv hones in on a demographic – those people who seek out for pet content. It provides a plethora of scenes focused on the pet. The main attraction is Merv himself, and even if it causes some stilted moments between animal action and the actors' responses, the movie succeeds in showing walking sequences, dog depression, and, in the end, doggie joy.
The Two-Legged Cast
Such effectiveness is not earned for the romantic plot. The tone vacillates between emotional depth, broad humor, standard rom-com beats, and physical comedy, failing to master a consistent feel. The fault lies not with Cox's performance, who is fully game the silliness and cringe inherent in the unusual premise. He brings a likable self-deprecation that provides a significant portion of the appeal for this seemingly ideal couple. Her co-star Deschanel, true to her usual style, brings a particular brand of eccentricity that will be to your taste or not. The character seems a touch too detached, especially when paired with Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (It should be noted, Merv himself succeeds in flopping and whining – not quite the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he is still a scene-stealer.)
The film attempts to give weight to the couple's history for scenes without their pet – which is unfortunate, since the title character is undoubtedly the most adorable aspect of this cute-aiming movie. As one might predict, it just about gets by. The cause for their original breakup could have been more nuanced with more screen time and more subtle storytelling. In the end, Merv is gentle and pleasant, hitting every expected note. Making a film with this canine conflict isn't a bad idea – though it's not exactly a stroke of genius.
- Merv premieres on Amazon Prime Video on December 10th.
