This is a common warning for numerous people that jointly caring for a dog following a split is ill-advised. Experts frequently claim such setups prevent individuals from finding closure, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and become annoying for everyone involved. Seemingly, as a development suited to a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to our furry friends to experience sadness.
Not to downplay the mental health of animals – many owners attest to their profound sensitivity. For a prime example in canine melancholy, one need only look recent cinema. There is little doubt that a dog of Merv's nature, a spirited little dog played by Gus the Dog, would struggle adjusting to split households. The idea of basing a full holiday film on such a setup holds water seems debatable at best.Predictable Foundations
To its credit, Merv, crafted by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and under the guidance of Jessica Swale, never aspires to be more profound than a light film. This is a seasonal offering from a corporate studio – the depth remains surface-level. Its storyline unfolds as simple and direct: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their own sadness is matched by their dog's, decide on a cheer-up vacation to a canine-centric retreat. At this location, predictably, they will surely stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. The supporting cast – featuring a group of comedic actors – fulfill roles quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. The film's look carries the feel of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is clearly manufactured – as seen in obvious snow effects piled on verdant foliage as a warm climate stands in for a cold December city.
The Canine Charisma
How these standard ingredients merge into an entertaining watch hinges on the strength of the performances and an acceptance of cinematic comfort food. On the latter point, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who browse regularly for cute animal clips. Audiences receive a series of adorable dog montages. The primary selling point is Merv himself, and while this leads to some stilted moments between animal action and the actors' responses, the movie succeeds in showing walking sequences, canine sorrow, and, ultimately, pure puppy happiness.
Where It Wobbles
This level of success does not extend for the romantic plot. Its style vacillates between emotional depth, broad humor, standard rom-com beats, and outright slapstick, failing to master a single genre. No blame falls on Cox's performance, who is admirably committed the humiliating and funny inherent in the bizarre setting. Cox exhibits a endearing lack of ego that provides the bulk of the chemistry for this on-the-rocks couple. Zooey Deschanel, true to her usual style, injects a particular brand of eccentricity that will be to your taste or not. The character can feel a bit too dry, particularly when contrasted against Cox's genuine sadness. (It should be noted, Gus the Dog manages acting depressed – not quite a canine thespian of that caliber, he's definitely a scene-stealer.)
The film attempts to give weight to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – a bit of a pity, considering Merv is undoubtedly the cutest element of this film designed for charm. Unsurprisingly, it achieves only baseline competence. The reason for their separation could have been more adult and realistic with greater exploration and fewer direct statements. As it stands, Merv is slight and sweet, meeting all its marks. Making a film with this canine conflict is not terrible – even if I wouldn't call it a great one either.
- Merv streams on Prime Video on December 10th.
