It is an often-repeated piece of advice in certain circles that jointly caring for a canine companion post-separation is a terrible idea. The consensus suggests such arrangements impede individuals from healing, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and prove frustrating across the board. As it turns out, in a revelation worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause our furry friends to feel down.
While respecting the mental health of animals – countless people attest to their deep emotional capacity. To witness a standout portrayal in dog sorrow, one need only look another performance. I firmly believe that a dog such as Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix played by a talented dog named Gus, would have a hard time coping with divided living arrangements. If this concept a full holiday film on this conflict is sustainable seems debatable at best.Standard Holiday Fare
To its credit, Merv, written by the writing duo and helmed by playwright Jessica Swale, never aspires to be deeper than what it is. This is a seasonal offering from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the ambitions are modest. The narrative is destined to be straightforward: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their own sadness is surpassed by their dog's, take a uplifting getaway to a luxury pet hotel. Once there, as expected, they will surely realize the idea that they are better together. Ensemble players – including a group of comedic actors – fulfill roles eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Visually carries the feel of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is visibly contrived – exemplified by fake snow piled on green trees as a summer location stands in for the Northeast.
The Canine Charisma
If these predictable parts merge into a pleasant experience depends on the strength of the performances and one's taste for cinematic comfort food. Regarding the second aspect, Merv knows its audience – the kind who browse regularly for dog videos. The film delivers a plethora of canine-centric sequences. The primary selling point is the canine star, and though it results in some awkward editing between animal action and human reaction, the movie succeeds in showing walking sequences, canine sorrow, and, ultimately, doggie joy.
The Human Element
Such effectiveness is not earned for the human side of the story. Its style wavers between serious study, wacky comedy, standard rom-com beats, and outright slapstick, not quite landing a consistent feel. This is not Cox's performance, who is fully game the humiliating and funny demanded of the bizarre setting. Cox exhibits a endearing lack of ego that provides a significant portion of the appeal for this seemingly ideal couple. Zooey Deschanel, in her typical fashion, brings a distinctive offbeat energy that will either resonate with viewers. Her Anna can feel a bit too dry, notably when contrasted against Cox's genuine sadness. (On another note, the canine performer manages looking despondent – while no a canine thespian of that caliber, he's definitely an excellent dog.)
The story strives to provide depth to the couple's history for moments when the dog is absent – which is unfortunate, given that the title character is easily the best part of this cute-aiming movie. Unsurprisingly, it meets the bare minimum. The cause for the split might seem more adult and realistic with more screen time and fewer direct statements. Ultimately, Merv is slight and sweet, hitting all its marks. Creating a movie about dog co-parenting isn't a bad idea – but it's hardly a stroke of genius.
- Merv premieres on the Amazon platform on December 10th.
