It is a widely held belief in certain circles that sharing custody a pet after a breakup is a terrible idea. Experts frequently claim such setups impede individuals from moving forward, cause practical headaches, fuel disputes, and become annoying across the board. As it turns out, and in a twist worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to the canine in question to feel down.
Not to downplay the mental health of dogs – many owners attest to their remarkable empathy. To witness a masterclass in pet despair, one need only look a past film. I firmly believe that a dog such as Merv, a scruffy terrier type brought to life by the canine actor Gus, would struggle adapting to life in two homes. The idea of basing an entire Christmas romance on this conflict is sustainable remains rather doubtful.A Familiar Formula
Fairness demands noting, Merv, crafted by 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 ambitions are modest. The plot proves to be straightforward: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their post-breakup gloom is rivaled only by their dog's, decide on a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. At this location, predictably, they will surely rediscover the idea that they should reunite. Ensemble players – played by a group of comedic actors – serve as the usual assortment of types. Visually is reminiscent of a streaming service original, with a wintry atmosphere that is visibly contrived – exemplified by fake snow surrounding lush pines as a summer location substitutes for a cold December city.
The Dog's Domain
Whether these standard ingredients merge into a pleasant experience depends on the strength of the performances and an acceptance of comfort viewing. Regarding the second aspect, Merv knows its audience – the kind who seek out for dog videos. The film delivers a series of adorable dog montages. The primary selling point is the dog, and while this leads to some stilted moments between what the dog does and the actors' responses, the movie delivers on dog beach fun, canine sorrow, and, ultimately, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Two-Legged Cast
Such effectiveness does not extend for the romantic plot. The tone vacillates between serious study, zany antics, formulaic romance, and silly gags, not quite landing a single genre. The fault lies not with the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the absurd and awkward inherent in the dog resort scenario. Cox exhibits a charming humility that supplies a significant portion of the appeal for this on-the-rocks couple. Zooey Deschanel, true to her usual style, imparts a particular brand of eccentricity that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal seems a bit too dry, notably when alongside Cox's genuine sadness. (On another note, the canine performer is convincing at flopping and whining – he may not be a canine thespian of that caliber, he remains an excellent dog.)
The film attempts to provide depth to the couple's history for scenes without their pet – a bit of a pity, given that the title character is by far the most adorable aspect of this cute-aiming movie. As one might predict, it just about gets by. The reason for their original breakup could have been more adult and realistic with less exposition and fewer direct statements. As it stands, Merv is slight and sweet, hitting precisely what you anticipate. Creating a movie with this canine conflict is not terrible – but it's not exactly a brilliant concept.
- Merv becomes available on Amazon Prime Video this December.
