It is a common warning among many that jointly caring for a dog following a split is ill-advised. Most will argue such situations prevent individuals from finding closure, cause practical headaches, fuel disputes, and become annoying across the board. Seemingly, as a development fit for a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to the dogs themselves to feel down.
While respecting the inner life of animals – pet parents attest to their profound sensitivity. For a prime example in dog sorrow, one need only look a past film. There is little doubt that a dog such as Merv, a scruffy terrier type portrayed by Gus the Dog, would struggle coping with split households. If this concept a full holiday film on this conflict is sustainable remains rather doubtful.Predictable Foundations
To its credit, Merv, written by the writing duo and directed by playwright Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims anything more than its premise. It functions as a Christmas movie from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the complexity are modest. The plot proves to be simple and direct: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their post-breakup gloom is matched by their dog's, decide on a therapeutic trip to a canine-centric retreat. Once there, as expected, they will undoubtedly rediscover the idea that they are better together. Side characters – featuring Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – serve as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Visually has the quality of a branded content, with a wintry atmosphere that is visibly contrived – exemplified by obvious snow effects surrounding green trees as a warm climate doubles as a wintery Boston.
The Canine Charisma
How these predictable parts come together into a pleasant experience rests upon the actors' work and the viewer's appetite for cinematic comfort food. For the comfort factor, Merv knows its audience – those people who seek out for dog videos. The film delivers a wealth of adorable dog montages. The central draw is Merv himself, and though it results in some stilted moments between animal action and the actors' responses, the movie does offer dog beach fun, canine sorrow, and, in the end, pure puppy happiness.
The Two-Legged Cast
Such effectiveness is not earned for the human side of the story. Its style shifts uneasily between relationship drama, zany antics, formulaic romance, and physical comedy, never fully committing to a consistent feel. No blame falls on the actor playing Russ, who is willing to embrace the silliness and cringe demanded of the dog resort scenario. Cox exhibits a likable self-deprecation that provides a significant portion of the appeal for this seemingly ideal couple. Anna's portrayer, true to her usual style, imparts a certain millennial quirkiness that will click for some but not others. The character can feel a little too aloof, particularly when paired with Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (It should be noted, Gus the Dog manages looking despondent – he may not be the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he remains a very good boy.)
Merv tries to provide depth to the central romance for moments when the dog is absent – a bit of a pity, given that Merv is easily the best part of this feel-good picture. Unsurprisingly, it meets the bare minimum. The reason for the split would feel more grounded and mature with less exposition and more subtle storytelling. As it stands, Merv is gentle and pleasant, meeting every expected note. Creating a movie with this canine conflict is not terrible – but I wouldn't call it a stroke of genius.
- Merv becomes available on Amazon Prime Video on December 10th.
