It is a widely held belief for numerous people that co-parenting a canine companion following a split is a terrible idea. The consensus suggests such setups hinder ex-partners from healing, cause practical headaches, fuel disputes, and prove frustrating for everyone involved. Apparently, in a revelation worthy of a streaming movie, it can even cause the dogs themselves to experience sadness.
Not to downplay the emotional well-being of animals – countless people speak of their deep emotional capacity. To witness a standout portrayal in dog sorrow, consider recent cinema. I firmly believe that a dog like Merv, a spirited little dog played by the canine actor Gus, would find it difficult adapting to divided living arrangements. Whether this premise a full holiday film on this conflict works effectively is a questionable prospect.A Familiar Formula
Honestly, Merv, the work of Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and under the guidance of director Swale, makes no grand claims anything more than a light film. We have here a holiday release from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the complexity remains surface-level. Its storyline is destined to be simple and direct: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their individual funk is matched by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a dog-friendly resort. Once there, as expected, they will presumably rediscover the idea that they belong with each other. Side characters – played by Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – are crafted as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. The film's look carries the feel of a streaming service original, with a Christmas setting that is obviously artificial – exemplified by obvious snow effects clinging to verdant foliage as a warm climate doubles as the Northeast.
The Canine Charisma
Whether these familiar elements coalesce into an entertaining watch hinges on the strength of the performances and an acceptance of easy entertainment. On the latter point, Merv hones in on a demographic – those people who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. Audiences receive a plethora of adorable dog montages. The central draw is the dog, and though it results in some clunky cuts between what the dog does and people's faces, the movie delivers on walking sequences, pet moping, and, in the end, a tail-wagging resolution.
Where It Wobbles
Such effectiveness is not earned for the romantic plot. The film's approach vacillates between relationship drama, broad humor, standard rom-com beats, and physical comedy, never fully committing to a consistent feel. No blame falls on the actor playing Russ, who is willing to embrace the absurd and awkward demanded of the dog resort scenario. Cox exhibits a endearing lack of ego that offers the bulk of the chemistry for this on-the-rocks couple. Her co-star Deschanel, in her typical fashion, imparts a distinctive offbeat energy that will click for some but not others. The character comes across as a little too aloof, particularly when alongside Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (For what it's worth, Merv himself is convincing at flopping and whining – while no the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he is still a very good boy.)
The story strives to give weight to the couple's history for scenes without their pet – which is unfortunate, considering the dog is by far the best part of this cute-aiming movie. Unsurprisingly, it meets the bare minimum. The cause for their original breakup might seem more adult and realistic with less exposition and less blunt explanation. As it stands, Merv is gentle and pleasant, fulfilling precisely what you anticipate. Making a film on this shared-custody premise is not terrible – even if I wouldn't call it a stroke of genius.
- Merv becomes available on the Amazon platform this December.
