This is a common warning in certain circles that jointly caring for a dog following a split is a terrible idea. Experts frequently claim such setups impede ex-partners from healing, create logistical nightmares, spark arguments, and prove frustrating for everyone involved. Seemingly, in a revelation fit for a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to the canine in question to become depressed.
Not to downplay the inner life of animals – countless people attest to their profound sensitivity. If you need prime example in canine melancholy, simply recall another performance. There is little doubt that a dog such as Merv, a spirited little dog played by Gus the Dog, would have a hard time adapting to split households. Whether this premise a full holiday film on this conflict holds water seems debatable at best.A Familiar Formula
Honestly, Merv, written by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and under the guidance of Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be deeper than a light film. This is a holiday release from a streaming platform giant – the complexity are modest. The narrative is destined to be straightforward: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their post-breakup gloom is surpassed by their dog's, take a uplifting getaway to a canine-centric retreat. There, inevitably, they will presumably rediscover the idea that they belong with each other. Ensemble players – including a group of comedic actors – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually carries the feel of a streaming service original, with a wintry atmosphere that is clearly manufactured – exemplified by flurries clinging to lush pines as a warm climate substitutes for the Northeast.
Where the Film Shines
If these standard ingredients coalesce into a pleasant experience hinges on the execution and the viewer's appetite for comfort viewing. Regarding the second aspect, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who browse regularly for dog videos. It provides a wealth of scenes focused on the pet. The main attraction is Merv himself, and while this leads to some awkward editing between the pet's "lines" and people's faces, the movie delivers on canine party antics, pet moping, and, finally, a tail-wagging resolution.
Where It Wobbles
This level of success does not extend for the interpersonal drama. The film's approach shifts uneasily between relationship drama, broad humor, formulaic romance, and outright slapstick, never fully committing to any one mode. This is not Charlie Cox, who is admirably committed the humiliating and funny inherent in the bizarre setting. Cox exhibits a likable self-deprecation that provides much of the film's charm for this ostensibly perfect couple. Anna's portrayer, in her typical fashion, injects a certain millennial quirkiness that will click for some but not others. Her Anna can feel a touch too detached, notably when alongside Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (For what it's worth, Gus the Dog is convincing at flopping and whining – he may not be Messi from that acclaimed drama, he is still a very good boy.)
The story strives to give weight to Anna and Russ's relationship for scenes without their pet – a bit of a pity, given that the title character is easily the best part of this cute-aiming movie. Expectedly, it achieves only baseline competence. The reason for their original breakup could have been more nuanced with greater exploration and less blunt explanation. In the end, Merv is light and sugary, fulfilling all its marks. Creating a movie with this canine conflict has potential – even if it's hardly a brilliant concept.
- Merv streams on Prime Video this December.
