It is a widely held belief for numerous people that co-parenting a canine companion post-separation is a terrible idea. Experts frequently claim such arrangements hinder individuals from moving forward, cause practical headaches, fuel disputes, and prove frustrating across the board. Apparently, and in a twist worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it also makes our furry friends to become depressed.
Without minimizing the mental health of our pets – countless people attest to their deep emotional capacity. To witness a masterclass in dog sorrow, simply recall recent cinema. There is little doubt that a dog like Merv, a scruffy terrier type brought to life by Gus the Dog, would find it difficult coping with life in two homes. Whether this premise a full holiday film on this conflict works effectively seems rather doubtful.Standard Holiday Fare
Honestly, Merv, written by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and under the guidance of playwright Jessica Swale, never aspires to be anything more than a light film. We have here a Christmas movie from a corporate studio – the ambitions remains surface-level. The plot is destined to be straightforward: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their own sadness is surpassed by their dog's, embark on a therapeutic trip to a dog-friendly resort. At this location, predictably, they will surely realize the idea that they belong with each other. Side characters – featuring familiar faces – serve as the usual assortment of types. Visually carries the feel of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is obviously artificial – as seen in obvious snow effects clinging to lush pines as North Carolina doubles as a wintery Boston.
The Dog's Domain
Whether these familiar elements coalesce into a pleasant experience rests upon the execution and an acceptance of easy entertainment. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who seek out for cute animal clips. It provides a wealth of adorable dog montages. The central draw is the dog, and even if it causes some awkward editing between animal action and people's faces, the movie succeeds in showing canine party antics, pet moping, and, ultimately, doggie joy.
The Human Element
Such effectiveness cannot be applied for the human side of the story. Its style vacillates between serious study, zany antics, formulaic romance, and silly gags, failing to master any one mode. No blame falls on Charlie Cox, who is fully game the absurd and awkward inherent in the bizarre setting. His performance contains a endearing lack of ego that supplies the bulk of the chemistry for this ostensibly perfect couple. Her co-star Deschanel, true to her usual style, brings a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna comes across as a little too aloof, particularly when contrasted against Cox's vulnerable performance. (It should be noted, Merv himself is convincing at acting depressed – not quite Messi from that acclaimed drama, he is still a very good boy.)
The story strives to provide depth to Anna and Russ's relationship for moments when the dog is absent – a bit of a pity, considering Merv is by far the cutest element of this feel-good picture. Unsurprisingly, it achieves only baseline competence. The cause for their original breakup could have been more adult and realistic with more screen time and fewer direct statements. Ultimately, Merv is gentle and pleasant, fulfilling all its marks. Crafting a story with this canine conflict isn't a bad idea – even if I wouldn't call it a brilliant concept.
- Merv becomes available on Prime Video this December.
