This is a widely held belief for numerous people that sharing custody a dog after a breakup is a terrible idea. Experts frequently claim such situations prevent ex-partners from finding closure, create logistical nightmares, lead to tension, and are a nuisance for everyone involved. Apparently, in a revelation suited to a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause the canine in question to feel down.
While respecting the emotional well-being of our pets – pet parents speak of their profound sensitivity. For a standout portrayal in pet despair, one need only look another performance. It seems certain that a dog like Merv, a spirited little dog brought to life by a talented dog named Gus, would have a hard time adapting to life in two homes. The idea of basing an entire Christmas romance around this situation holds water seems debatable at best.A Familiar Formula
Fairness demands noting, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and directed by Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be deeper than a light film. We have here a seasonal offering from a corporate studio – the ambitions is limited. The narrative unfolds as straightforward: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their own sadness is matched by their dog's, decide on a therapeutic trip to a canine-centric retreat. At this location, predictably, they will surely stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. Side characters – featuring familiar faces – serve as the usual assortment of types. Visually is reminiscent of a streaming service original, with a wintry atmosphere that is obviously artificial – as seen in obvious snow effects piled on verdant foliage as a warm climate stands in for the Northeast.
The Dog's Domain
Whether these familiar elements coalesce into an entertaining watch rests upon the strength of the performances and the viewer's appetite for comfort viewing. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – individuals who browse regularly for dog videos. The film delivers a plethora of canine-centric sequences. The central draw is the dog, and even if it causes some clunky cuts between what the dog does and people's faces, the movie succeeds in showing dog beach fun, canine sorrow, and, in the end, doggie joy.
The Human Element
The same praise cannot be applied for the romantic plot. Its style vacillates between serious study, broad humor, standard rom-com beats, and outright slapstick, never fully committing to a single genre. The fault lies not with Cox's performance, who is admirably committed the humiliating and funny inherent in the dog resort scenario. Cox exhibits a charming humility that provides a significant portion of the appeal for this seemingly ideal couple. Anna's portrayer, as is her trademark, imparts a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. The character seems a little too aloof, especially when paired with Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (On another note, Gus the Dog manages looking despondent – not quite the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he's definitely a scene-stealer.)
The film attempts to provide depth to Anna and Russ's relationship for sequences focusing solely on them – a bit of a pity, given that Merv is undoubtedly the cutest element of this cute-aiming movie. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The cause for the split might seem more grounded and mature with greater exploration and fewer direct statements. Ultimately, Merv is gentle and pleasant, fulfilling every expected note. Creating a movie about dog co-parenting is not terrible – even if it's not exactly a great one either.
- Merv becomes available on Amazon Prime Video this December.
