It is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that sharing custody a canine companion post-separation is ill-advised. Most will argue such setups impede ex-partners from healing, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and become annoying for everyone involved. Apparently, and in a twist worthy of a streaming movie, it also makes the canine in question to become depressed.
Without minimizing the mental health of dogs – many owners observe their profound sensitivity. For a masterclass in pet despair, consider recent cinema. It seems certain that a dog of Merv's nature, a wired-hair terrier mix portrayed by Gus the Dog, would have a hard time adapting to divided living arrangements. The idea of basing a full holiday film on such a setup is sustainable is debatable at best.A Familiar Formula
Honestly, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and directed by playwright Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be deeper than a light film. It functions as a holiday release from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the depth are modest. The plot is destined to be straightforward: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their post-breakup gloom is rivaled only by their dog's, decide on a cheer-up vacation to a dog-friendly resort. At this location, predictably, they will presumably realize the idea that they should reunite. The supporting cast – played by a group of comedic actors – serve as the usual assortment of types. Its aesthetic is reminiscent of a branded content, with a holiday backdrop that is visibly contrived – exemplified by obvious snow effects clinging to green trees as a summer location stands in for a cold December city.
The Canine Charisma
Whether these familiar elements coalesce into an entertaining watch depends on the strength of the performances and one's taste for comfort viewing. Regarding the second aspect, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who scroll endlessly for dog videos. The film delivers a plethora of scenes focused on the pet. The primary selling point is Merv himself, and even if it causes some clunky cuts between animal action and people's faces, the movie delivers on dog beach fun, dog depression, and, in the end, a tail-wagging resolution.
Where It Wobbles
The same praise is not earned for the interpersonal drama. The film's approach shifts uneasily between emotional depth, zany antics, standard rom-com beats, and outright slapstick, failing to master a single genre. This is not the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the absurd and awkward inherent in the dog resort scenario. Cox exhibits a charming humility that provides the bulk of the chemistry for this seemingly ideal couple. Zooey Deschanel, as is her trademark, injects a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal seems a bit too dry, especially when contrasted against Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (For what it's worth, the canine performer succeeds in flopping and whining – not quite Messi from that acclaimed drama, he's definitely a scene-stealer.)
Merv tries to give weight to the central romance for sequences focusing solely on them – a bit of a pity, considering the dog is easily the cutest element of this feel-good picture. As one might predict, it achieves only baseline competence. The cause for their separation could have been more grounded and mature with less exposition and less blunt explanation. As it stands, Merv is gentle and pleasant, hitting every expected note. Crafting a story with this canine conflict isn't a bad idea – even if I wouldn't call it a stroke of genius.
- Merv premieres on the Amazon platform on December 10th.
