This is a widely held belief in certain circles that jointly caring for a pet post-separation is a recipe for trouble. The consensus suggests such arrangements impede individuals from healing, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and become annoying for everyone involved. Apparently, in a revelation suited to a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to the canine in question to experience sadness.
While respecting the emotional well-being of our pets – countless people observe their deep emotional capacity. For a masterclass in canine melancholy, simply recall a past film. It seems certain that a dog such as Merv, a scruffy terrier type portrayed by a talented dog named Gus, would find it difficult coping with life in two homes. If this concept a feature-length romcom on such a setup is sustainable seems a questionable prospect.Standard Holiday Fare
To its credit, Merv, written by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and helmed by director Swale, makes no grand claims anything more than its premise. We have here a holiday release from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the ambitions is limited. The plot proves to be uncomplicated: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their own sadness is rivaled only by their dog's, decide on a uplifting getaway to a dog-friendly resort. Once there, as expected, they will surely stumble toward the idea that they are better together. The supporting cast – played by familiar faces – fulfill roles quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. The film's look has the quality of a branded content, with a wintry atmosphere that is clearly manufactured – exemplified by obvious snow effects surrounding lush pines as a summer location stands in for the Northeast.
The Canine Charisma
If these predictable parts come together into an entertaining watch rests upon the strength of the performances and the viewer's appetite for comfort viewing. On the latter point, Merv knows its audience – those people who browse regularly for dog videos. The film delivers a plethora of canine-centric sequences. The main attraction is the dog, and while this leads to some clunky cuts between animal action and human reaction, the movie does offer walking sequences, dog depression, and, in the end, doggie joy.
The Human Element
This level of success cannot be applied for the human side of the story. The tone shifts uneasily between relationship drama, broad humor, predictable love story, and outright slapstick, not quite landing a single genre. No blame falls on the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the silliness and cringe inherent in the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a likable self-deprecation that supplies a significant portion of the appeal for this ostensibly perfect couple. Zooey Deschanel, true to her usual style, brings a particular brand of eccentricity that will either resonate with viewers. Her portrayal seems a touch too detached, notably when paired with Cox's genuine sadness. (It should be noted, the canine performer is convincing at looking despondent – not quite a canine thespian of that caliber, he remains a very good boy.)
The film attempts to provide depth to the couple's history for scenes without their pet – a regrettable choice, considering the dog is by far the cutest element of this feel-good picture. Expectedly, it achieves only baseline competence. The catalyst for their original breakup would feel more grounded and mature with more screen time and fewer direct statements. In the end, Merv is light and sugary, meeting all its marks. Creating a movie with this canine conflict is not terrible – though it's not exactly a stroke of genius.
- Merv premieres on the Amazon platform starting December 10.
