This is a widely held belief in certain circles that jointly caring for a pet following a split is a terrible idea. The consensus suggests such setups impede individuals from healing, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and are a nuisance for all parties. Apparently, in a revelation fit for a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to our furry friends to become depressed.
Not to downplay the inner life of dogs – many owners attest to their deep emotional capacity. To witness a masterclass in canine melancholy, one need only look recent cinema. It seems certain that a dog like Merv, a scruffy terrier type played by a talented dog named Gus, would struggle coping with divided living arrangements. The idea of basing a full holiday film on such a setup is sustainable remains rather doubtful.A Familiar Formula
To its credit, Merv, crafted by the writing duo and under the guidance of director Swale, never aspires to be anything more than what it is. This is a holiday release from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the depth is limited. The narrative is destined to be uncomplicated: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their own sadness is surpassed by their dog's, decide on a therapeutic trip to a luxury pet hotel. At this location, predictably, they will presumably stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. The supporting cast – featuring familiar faces – fulfill roles quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic has the quality of a branded content, with a wintry atmosphere that is visibly contrived – think flurries surrounding verdant foliage as a warm climate stands in for a wintery Boston.
The Canine Charisma
How these familiar elements come together into something enjoyable depends on the execution and one's taste for comfort viewing. For the comfort factor, Merv hones in on a demographic – the kind who browse regularly for dog videos. The film delivers a series of scenes focused on the pet. The main attraction is the dog, and though it results in some stilted moments between the pet's "lines" and people's faces, the movie delivers on dog beach fun, dog depression, and, ultimately, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Two-Legged Cast
Such effectiveness cannot be applied for the human side of the story. The film's approach shifts uneasily between relationship drama, wacky comedy, formulaic romance, and outright slapstick, failing to master a consistent feel. No blame falls on Charlie Cox, who is willing to embrace the absurd and awkward inherent in the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a endearing lack of ego that offers much of the film's charm for this seemingly ideal couple. Anna's portrayer, true to her usual style, imparts a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal seems a touch too detached, particularly when alongside Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (On another note, Gus the Dog is convincing at acting depressed – while no a canine thespian of that caliber, he's definitely a very good boy.)
The story strives to give weight to Anna and Russ's relationship for moments when the dog is absent – a regrettable choice, given that Merv is by far the best part of this film designed for charm. Unsurprisingly, it meets the bare minimum. The reason for their original breakup would feel more adult and realistic with more screen time and less blunt explanation. In the end, Merv is light and sugary, meeting every expected note. Crafting a story on this shared-custody premise is not terrible – though I wouldn't call it a stroke of genius.
- Merv becomes available on Prime Video this December.
