This is a widely held belief for numerous people that jointly caring for a pet after a breakup is a recipe for trouble. Most will argue such setups prevent individuals from finding closure, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and prove frustrating for all parties. As it turns out, in a revelation worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it also makes the dogs themselves to experience sadness.
Without minimizing the emotional well-being of dogs – countless people speak of their profound sensitivity. If you need prime example in dog sorrow, simply recall recent cinema. It seems certain that a dog like Merv, a spirited little dog brought to life by the canine actor Gus, would have a hard time coping with split households. The idea of basing a full holiday film on such a setup works effectively remains a questionable prospect.Standard Holiday Fare
Honestly, Merv, written by the writing duo and under the guidance of director Swale, makes no grand claims anything more than what it is. This is a seasonal offering from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the ambitions is limited. The narrative unfolds as uncomplicated: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their own sadness is matched by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. At this location, predictably, they will presumably rediscover the idea that they are better together. The supporting cast – including Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – fulfill roles eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Its aesthetic has the quality of a branded content, with a holiday backdrop that is obviously artificial – exemplified by fake snow surrounding lush pines as a summer location doubles as the Northeast.
The Dog's Domain
How these predictable parts coalesce into something enjoyable rests upon the strength of the performances and an acceptance of comfort viewing. Regarding the second aspect, Merv targets a specific viewer – individuals who seek out for dog videos. Audiences receive a wealth of scenes focused on the pet. The central draw is the canine star, and even if it causes some stilted moments between the pet's "lines" and the actors' responses, the movie delivers on walking sequences, canine sorrow, and, in the end, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Two-Legged Cast
This level of success does not extend for the interpersonal drama. Its style vacillates between relationship drama, broad humor, predictable love story, and physical comedy, failing to master a consistent feel. This is not Charlie Cox, who is fully game the humiliating and funny demanded of the unusual premise. Cox exhibits a charming humility that offers the bulk of the chemistry for this seemingly ideal couple. Anna's portrayer, true to her usual style, injects a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna can feel a bit too dry, notably when alongside Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (For what it's worth, the canine performer is convincing at flopping and whining – he may not be the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he is still an excellent dog.)
The story strives to give weight to Anna and Russ's relationship for scenes without their pet – a regrettable choice, given that Merv is undoubtedly the most adorable aspect of this cute-aiming movie. Expectedly, it achieves only baseline competence. The cause for the split would feel more nuanced with more screen time and fewer direct statements. Ultimately, Merv is slight and sweet, fulfilling all its marks. Creating a movie on this shared-custody premise has potential – even if I wouldn't call it a great one either.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video this December.
