This is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that jointly caring for a canine companion post-separation is ill-advised. Experts frequently claim such setups impede individuals from moving forward, create logistical nightmares, lead to tension, and become annoying for all parties. As it turns out, 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 mental health of our pets – countless people speak of their remarkable empathy. To witness a prime example in pet despair, consider another performance. It seems certain that a dog like Merv, a scruffy terrier type played by the canine actor Gus, would struggle coping with life in two homes. If this concept an entire Christmas romance around this situation works effectively is rather doubtful.A Familiar Formula
To its credit, Merv, crafted by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and under the guidance of playwright Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be more profound than its premise. This is a seasonal offering from a corporate studio – the depth is limited. Its storyline unfolds as uncomplicated: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their own sadness is matched by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a canine-centric retreat. There, inevitably, they will presumably realize the idea that they should reunite. Ensemble players – featuring a group of comedic actors – serve as the usual assortment of types. Visually is reminiscent of a platform's in-house production, with a Christmas setting that is visibly contrived – exemplified by fake snow surrounding verdant foliage as a summer location doubles as the Northeast.
The Dog's Domain
If these familiar elements merge into an entertaining watch depends on the execution and the viewer's appetite for easy entertainment. Regarding the second aspect, Merv hones in on a demographic – those people who seek out for dog videos. The film delivers a wealth of scenes focused on the pet. The central draw is the dog, and even if it causes some awkward editing between the pet's "lines" and the actors' responses, the movie does offer canine party antics, canine sorrow, and, ultimately, doggie joy.
The Two-Legged Cast
Such effectiveness does not extend for the human side of the story. The tone vacillates between emotional depth, broad humor, predictable love story, and outright slapstick, never fully committing to any one mode. This is not Cox's performance, who is fully game the silliness and cringe demanded of the bizarre setting. His performance contains a charming humility that offers a significant portion of the appeal for this on-the-rocks couple. Anna's portrayer, true to her usual style, imparts a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna can feel a touch too detached, notably when paired with Cox's vulnerable performance. (On another note, Gus the Dog manages flopping and whining – not quite a canine thespian of that caliber, he is still a very good boy.)
Merv tries to give weight to Anna and Russ's relationship for scenes without their pet – a regrettable choice, considering Merv is by far the best part of this film designed for charm. Expectedly, it achieves only baseline competence. The cause for their separation would feel more grounded and mature with less exposition and more subtle storytelling. As it stands, Merv is slight and sweet, meeting all its marks. Crafting a story with this canine conflict is not terrible – but it's not exactly a brilliant concept.
- Merv becomes available on Amazon Prime Video on December 10th.
