It is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that jointly caring for a canine companion following a split is a recipe for trouble. Experts frequently claim such setups prevent former couples from moving forward, lead to scheduling chaos, spark arguments, and are a nuisance for everyone involved. As it turns out, in a revelation suited to a direct-to-platform film, it also makes our furry friends to become depressed.
Not to downplay the inner life of animals – pet parents attest to their deep emotional capacity. To witness a prime example in pet despair, consider another performance. I firmly believe that a dog of Merv's nature, a spirited little dog brought to life by Gus the Dog, would have a hard time adjusting to divided living arrangements. The idea of basing a full holiday film around this situation holds water is rather doubtful.Standard Holiday Fare
To its credit, Merv, the work of its screenwriters and helmed by director Swale, doesn't pretend to be deeper than what it is. It functions as a holiday release from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the complexity remains surface-level. The plot proves to be simple and direct: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their own sadness is surpassed by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a dog-friendly resort. There, inevitably, they will presumably rediscover the idea that they belong with each other. Side characters – including Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – are crafted as the usual assortment of types. Its aesthetic carries the feel of a platform's in-house production, with a wintry atmosphere that is visibly contrived – think obvious snow effects clinging to lush pines as a summer location stands in for a wintery Boston.
Where the Film Shines
How these familiar elements coalesce into something enjoyable rests upon the actors' work and one's taste for easy entertainment. Regarding the second aspect, Merv knows its audience – those people who scroll endlessly for pet content. Audiences receive a series of adorable dog montages. The main attraction is the canine star, and even if it causes some clunky cuts between what the dog does and human reaction, the movie does offer canine party antics, canine sorrow, and, in the end, doggie joy.
The Human Element
This level of success cannot be applied for the interpersonal drama. The tone wavers between relationship drama, wacky comedy, standard rom-com beats, and physical comedy, failing to master a single genre. This is not Charlie Cox, who is willing to embrace the humiliating and funny inherent in the bizarre setting. He brings a charming humility that offers a significant portion of the appeal for this seemingly ideal couple. Zooey Deschanel, true to her usual style, brings a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna comes across as a little too aloof, particularly when paired with Cox's genuine sadness. (It should be noted, Merv himself is convincing at acting depressed – while no the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he is still a very good boy.)
The story strives to add substance to the central romance for scenes without their pet – which is unfortunate, given that the title character is by far the cutest element of this feel-good picture. Expectedly, it meets the bare minimum. The cause for their separation would feel more adult and realistic with more screen time and fewer direct statements. As it stands, Merv is light and sugary, meeting precisely what you anticipate. Creating a movie on this shared-custody premise isn't a bad idea – even if I wouldn't call it a stroke of genius.
- Merv becomes available on Amazon Prime Video on December 10th.
