This is an often-repeated piece of advice among many that jointly caring for a canine companion after a breakup is a recipe for trouble. Most will argue such situations hinder former couples from finding closure, create logistical nightmares, fuel disputes, and are a nuisance for all parties. Apparently, in a revelation worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to our furry friends to experience sadness.
Without minimizing the mental health of dogs – countless people attest to their deep emotional capacity. If you need prime example in pet despair, simply recall a past film. There is little doubt that a dog of Merv's nature, a spirited little dog brought to life by a talented dog named Gus, would find it difficult coping with split households. If this concept a full holiday film on this conflict works effectively remains rather doubtful.Predictable Foundations
Fairness demands noting, Merv, crafted by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and helmed by playwright Jessica Swale, never aspires to be deeper than a light film. It functions as a Christmas movie from a corporate studio – the complexity is limited. The narrative unfolds as straightforward: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their post-breakup gloom is surpassed by their dog's, embark on a therapeutic trip to a luxury pet hotel. There, inevitably, they will undoubtedly realize the idea that they are better together. Side characters – featuring familiar faces – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually is reminiscent of a platform's in-house production, with a Christmas setting that is visibly contrived – think fake snow piled on lush pines as a summer location substitutes for the Northeast.
The Canine Charisma
Whether these standard ingredients 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 – the kind who browse regularly for dog videos. Audiences receive a series of adorable dog montages. The primary selling point is the dog, and even if it causes some clunky cuts between animal action and people's faces, the movie does offer dog beach fun, canine sorrow, and, finally, doggie joy.
The Two-Legged Cast
This level of success does not extend for the human side of the story. The film's approach wavers between emotional depth, wacky comedy, standard rom-com beats, and physical comedy, not quite landing any one mode. The fault lies not with the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the humiliating and funny inherent in the unusual premise. His performance contains a likable self-deprecation that supplies a significant portion of the appeal for this ostensibly perfect couple. Zooey Deschanel, in her typical fashion, imparts a distinctive offbeat energy that will either resonate with viewers. Her portrayal can feel a bit too dry, notably when paired with Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (For what it's worth, Merv himself succeeds in looking despondent – not quite the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he remains a scene-stealer.)
The film attempts to add substance to the central romance for scenes without their pet – a bit of a pity, given that the dog is by far the best part of this cute-aiming movie. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The reason for their separation might seem more nuanced with greater exploration and fewer direct statements. In the end, Merv is light and sugary, fulfilling every expected note. Creating a movie about dog co-parenting has potential – even if I wouldn't call it a great one either.
- Merv streams on the Amazon platform this December.
