It is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that jointly caring for a pet after a breakup is ill-advised. Most will argue such arrangements prevent individuals from finding closure, lead to scheduling chaos, spark arguments, and prove frustrating across the board. As it turns out, in a revelation fit for a streaming movie, it also makes the canine in question to feel down.
Without minimizing the emotional well-being of animals – countless people attest to their profound sensitivity. If you need prime example in pet despair, simply recall a past film. I firmly believe that a dog of Merv's nature, a scruffy terrier type portrayed by Gus the Dog, would struggle adjusting to split households. If this concept a full holiday film on this conflict works effectively remains a questionable prospect.Standard Holiday Fare
To its credit, Merv, written by its screenwriters and helmed by Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be more profound than a light film. This is a Christmas movie from a corporate studio – the complexity is limited. The plot is destined to be uncomplicated: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their individual funk is matched by their dog's, decide on a uplifting getaway to a dog-friendly resort. Once there, as expected, they will surely realize the idea that they should reunite. Side characters – played by familiar faces – are crafted as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Visually has the quality of a branded content, with a holiday backdrop that is obviously artificial – as seen in fake snow piled on green trees as a warm climate doubles as a wintery Boston.
The Dog's Domain
How these standard ingredients come together into something enjoyable rests upon the actors' work and the viewer's appetite for cinematic comfort food. For the comfort factor, Merv knows its audience – individuals who seek out for dog videos. The film delivers a series of adorable dog montages. The central draw is the canine star, and even if it causes some awkward editing between animal action and human reaction, the movie does offer dog beach fun, pet moping, and, ultimately, doggie joy.
The Two-Legged Cast
Such effectiveness cannot be applied for the interpersonal drama. Its style wavers between relationship drama, wacky comedy, predictable love story, and physical comedy, failing to master a single genre. No blame falls on the actor playing Russ, who is willing to embrace the humiliating and funny inherent in the unusual premise. Cox exhibits a likable self-deprecation that offers a significant portion of the appeal for this seemingly ideal couple. Anna's portrayer, in her typical fashion, imparts a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal can feel a little too aloof, especially when alongside Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (For what it's worth, Gus the Dog manages looking despondent – not quite Messi from that acclaimed drama, he remains an excellent dog.)
Merv tries to provide depth to Anna and Russ's relationship for sequences focusing solely on them – a regrettable choice, considering the title character is by far the most adorable aspect of this feel-good picture. Expectedly, it meets the bare minimum. The catalyst for their separation would feel more nuanced with less exposition and less blunt explanation. In the end, Merv is slight and sweet, fulfilling all its marks. Making a film about dog co-parenting isn't a bad idea – but I wouldn't call it a brilliant concept.
- Merv premieres on the Amazon platform this December.
