It is an often-repeated piece of advice among many that sharing custody a pet post-separation is a recipe for trouble. Most will argue such setups impede individuals from moving forward, create logistical nightmares, fuel disputes, and become annoying across the board. Seemingly, in a revelation fit for a direct-to-platform film, it also makes the canine in question to become depressed.
Not to downplay the inner life of animals – many owners attest to their profound sensitivity. To witness a masterclass in pet despair, consider a past film. It seems certain that a dog like Merv, a scruffy terrier type portrayed by the canine actor Gus, would find it difficult adjusting to divided living arrangements. Whether this premise an entire Christmas romance on such a setup works effectively is rather doubtful.Standard Holiday Fare
Honestly, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and helmed by Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be anything more than its premise. This is a Christmas movie from a streaming platform giant – the depth are modest. The narrative is destined to be simple and direct: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their own sadness is matched by their dog's, decide on a therapeutic trip to a dog-friendly resort. There, inevitably, they will undoubtedly rediscover the idea that they should reunite. Side characters – including familiar faces – are crafted as the usual assortment of types. Visually has the quality of a branded content, with a holiday backdrop that is visibly contrived – as seen in flurries surrounding verdant foliage as North Carolina stands in for a wintery Boston.
The Canine Charisma
How these predictable parts come together into a pleasant experience hinges on the strength of the performances and an acceptance of cinematic comfort food. On the latter point, Merv knows its audience – individuals who browse regularly for cute animal clips. It provides a series of canine-centric sequences. The primary selling point is the dog, and while this leads to some clunky cuts between the pet's "lines" and people's faces, the movie does offer dog beach fun, dog depression, and, finally, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Two-Legged Cast
This level of success does not extend for the human side of the story. The tone shifts uneasily between emotional depth, wacky comedy, formulaic romance, and physical comedy, never fully committing to any one mode. The fault lies not with the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the absurd and awkward inherent in the unusual premise. His performance contains a endearing lack of ego that supplies the bulk of the chemistry for this seemingly ideal couple. Anna's portrayer, in her typical fashion, injects a certain millennial quirkiness that will either resonate with viewers. The character comes across as a bit too dry, particularly when contrasted against Cox's vulnerable performance. (It should be noted, Gus the Dog is convincing at acting depressed – he may not be a canine thespian of that caliber, he's definitely an excellent dog.)
The story strives to provide depth to the couple's history for moments when the dog is absent – a regrettable choice, since the dog is by far the best part of this feel-good picture. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The catalyst for their original breakup would feel more adult and realistic with greater exploration and more subtle storytelling. In the end, Merv is slight and sweet, hitting precisely what you anticipate. Making a film about dog co-parenting has potential – but I wouldn't call it a brilliant concept.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video this December.
