It is a widely held belief for numerous people that sharing custody a canine companion after a breakup is a recipe for trouble. Most will argue such setups impede individuals from finding closure, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and become annoying across the board. Seemingly, as a development fit for a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to the dogs themselves to feel down.
Without minimizing the mental health of animals – pet parents attest to their profound sensitivity. To witness a prime example in canine melancholy, one need only look another performance. It seems certain that a dog like Merv, a scruffy terrier type played by the canine actor Gus, would have a hard time adjusting to divided living arrangements. The idea of basing an entire Christmas romance on this conflict works effectively remains rather doubtful.A Familiar Formula
Fairness demands noting, Merv, the work of Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and helmed by playwright Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be more profound than its premise. We have here a holiday release from a streaming platform giant – the complexity is limited. The plot is destined to be straightforward: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their individual funk is rivaled only by their dog's, embark on a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. There, inevitably, they will undoubtedly stumble toward the idea that they belong with each other. Side characters – played by a group of comedic actors – serve as the usual assortment of types. Its aesthetic is reminiscent of a branded content, with a holiday backdrop that is clearly manufactured – exemplified by fake snow surrounding green trees as a warm climate stands in for a wintery Boston.
The Dog's Domain
If these familiar elements come together into an entertaining watch hinges on the execution and one's taste for cinematic comfort food. On the latter point, Merv hones in on a demographic – those people who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. The film delivers a series of adorable dog montages. 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 does offer walking sequences, canine sorrow, and, finally, pure puppy happiness.
The Two-Legged Cast
This level of success is not earned for the romantic plot. The film's approach wavers between relationship drama, broad humor, standard rom-com beats, and physical comedy, failing to master a consistent feel. This is not Cox's performance, who is willing to embrace the humiliating and funny demanded of the dog resort scenario. Cox exhibits a charming humility that supplies a significant portion of the appeal for this ostensibly perfect couple. Zooey Deschanel, in her typical fashion, imparts a particular brand of eccentricity that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal can feel a touch too detached, especially when alongside Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (On another note, Merv himself manages acting depressed – he may not be the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he's definitely a very good boy.)
The story strives to add substance to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – which is unfortunate, considering the title character is easily the best part of this feel-good picture. Unsurprisingly, it just about gets by. The catalyst for the split would feel more grounded and mature with less exposition and fewer direct statements. Ultimately, Merv is slight and sweet, fulfilling every expected note. Making a film with this canine conflict isn't a bad idea – though I wouldn't call it a brilliant concept.
- Merv becomes available on Amazon Prime Video on December 10th.
