This is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that jointly caring for a canine companion post-separation is a terrible idea. The consensus suggests such arrangements hinder individuals from moving forward, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and are a nuisance for all parties. Apparently, and in a twist worthy of a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to the canine in question to feel down.
Not to downplay the inner life of dogs – countless people speak of their deep emotional capacity. If you need standout portrayal in dog sorrow, consider recent cinema. It seems certain that a dog such as Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix portrayed by a talented dog named Gus, would find it difficult coping with life in two homes. Whether this premise a full holiday film around this situation is sustainable is rather doubtful.Standard Holiday Fare
Fairness demands noting, Merv, the work of the writing duo and helmed by director Swale, makes no grand claims deeper than a light film. It functions as a holiday release from a corporate studio – the complexity is limited. The plot proves to be uncomplicated: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their individual funk is rivaled only by their dog's, embark on a cheer-up vacation to a canine-centric retreat. Once there, as expected, they will undoubtedly realize the idea that they are better together. Side characters – including a group of comedic actors – serve as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. The film's look has the quality of a streaming service original, with a holiday backdrop that is obviously artificial – as seen in fake snow clinging to lush pines as a summer location stands in for a cold December city.
The Canine Charisma
If these standard ingredients coalesce into something enjoyable hinges on the strength of the performances and the viewer's appetite for comfort viewing. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – individuals who scroll endlessly for dog videos. The film delivers a plethora of canine-centric sequences. The primary selling point is the dog, and even if it causes some awkward editing between the pet's "lines" and people's faces, the movie delivers on dog beach fun, pet moping, and, finally, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Human Element
The same praise is not earned for the human side of the story. The tone vacillates between emotional depth, zany antics, formulaic romance, and silly gags, not quite landing any one mode. The fault lies not with Charlie Cox, who is willing to embrace the absurd and awkward required by the dog resort scenario. Cox exhibits a charming humility that provides a significant portion of the appeal for this ostensibly perfect couple. Her co-star Deschanel, in her typical fashion, imparts a certain millennial quirkiness that will click for some but not others. Her Anna can feel a bit too dry, particularly when paired with Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (It should be noted, Merv himself succeeds in flopping and whining – he may not be a canine thespian of that caliber, he is still a very good boy.)
Merv tries to provide depth to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – which is unfortunate, considering the dog is undoubtedly the most adorable aspect of this film designed for charm. As one might predict, it achieves only baseline competence. The cause for their original breakup might seem more adult and realistic with greater exploration and less blunt explanation. Ultimately, Merv is light and sugary, meeting all its marks. Crafting a story on this shared-custody premise isn't a bad idea – even if I wouldn't call it a stroke of genius.
- Merv premieres on the Amazon platform this December.
