It is a common warning in certain circles that sharing custody a dog after a breakup is ill-advised. Experts frequently claim such setups hinder former couples from finding closure, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and are a nuisance across the board. Apparently, and in a twist suited to a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to our furry friends to experience sadness.
Without minimizing the inner life of our pets – countless people observe their deep emotional capacity. If you need prime example in canine melancholy, simply recall a past film. There is little doubt that a dog like Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix played by the canine actor Gus, would have a hard time adapting to life in two homes. If this concept an entire Christmas romance around this situation is sustainable remains rather doubtful.Predictable Foundations
To its credit, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and directed by Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims deeper than a light film. We have here a holiday release from a streaming platform giant – the ambitions remains surface-level. Its storyline proves to be straightforward: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their individual funk is surpassed by their dog's, decide on a cheer-up vacation to a canine-centric retreat. At this location, predictably, they will presumably realize the idea that they are better together. Side characters – including Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – fulfill roles the usual assortment of types. The film's look is reminiscent of a branded content, with a holiday backdrop that is visibly contrived – think flurries surrounding lush pines as a warm climate doubles as the Northeast.
The Dog's Domain
How these standard ingredients coalesce into a pleasant experience hinges on the execution and the viewer's appetite for easy entertainment. Regarding the second aspect, Merv hones in on a demographic – individuals who seek out for dog videos. It provides a plethora of scenes focused on the pet. The central draw is the dog, and though it results in some awkward editing between what the dog does and the actors' responses, the movie does offer canine party antics, pet moping, and, in the end, doggie joy.
Where It Wobbles
Such effectiveness cannot be applied for the romantic plot. The tone shifts uneasily between relationship drama, broad humor, formulaic romance, and outright slapstick, failing to master a single genre. No blame falls on the actor playing Russ, who is willing to embrace the humiliating and funny inherent in the dog resort scenario. Cox exhibits a endearing lack of ego that supplies the bulk of the chemistry for this ostensibly perfect couple. Zooey Deschanel, in her typical fashion, brings a distinctive offbeat energy that will click for some but not others. Her portrayal seems a bit too dry, particularly when paired with Cox's genuine sadness. (It should be noted, Merv himself manages flopping and whining – he may not be Messi from that acclaimed drama, he's definitely a scene-stealer.)
Merv tries to add substance to the couple's history for scenes without their pet – a regrettable choice, since the title character is easily the cutest element of this feel-good picture. Unsurprisingly, it just about gets by. The reason for their original breakup would feel more nuanced with less exposition and more subtle storytelling. As it stands, Merv is light and sugary, hitting precisely what you anticipate. Making a film with this canine conflict is not terrible – but I wouldn't call it a brilliant concept.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video starting December 10.
