It is a widely held belief among many that jointly caring for a dog after a breakup is ill-advised. Experts frequently claim such setups prevent ex-partners from finding closure, create logistical nightmares, fuel disputes, and are a nuisance for everyone involved. Apparently, and in a twist suited to a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause our furry friends to experience sadness.
Not to downplay the mental health of animals – countless people attest to their deep emotional capacity. To witness a prime example in pet despair, consider recent cinema. There is little doubt that a dog like Merv, a scruffy terrier type played by a talented dog named Gus, would have a hard time adapting to life in two homes. The idea of basing an entire Christmas romance around this situation holds water is debatable at best.Standard Holiday Fare
To its credit, Merv, crafted by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and directed by playwright Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be more profound than its premise. We have here a holiday release from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the ambitions is limited. The plot proves to be simple and direct: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their post-breakup gloom is surpassed by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a canine-centric retreat. There, inevitably, they will surely realize the idea that they should reunite. Side characters – featuring familiar faces – fulfill roles the usual assortment of types. The film's look has the quality of a platform's in-house production, with a wintry atmosphere that is visibly contrived – think flurries surrounding verdant foliage as North Carolina stands in for a wintery Boston.
The Dog's Domain
Whether these familiar elements coalesce into a pleasant experience rests upon the execution and the viewer's appetite for cinematic comfort food. For the comfort factor, Merv hones in on a demographic – those people who seek out for dog videos. The film delivers a series of canine-centric sequences. The central draw is the canine star, and even if it causes some stilted moments between what the dog does and the actors' responses, the movie succeeds in showing canine party antics, dog depression, and, ultimately, a tail-wagging resolution.
Where It Wobbles
Such effectiveness cannot be applied for the romantic plot. Its style shifts uneasily between relationship drama, zany antics, standard rom-com beats, and outright slapstick, failing to master a single genre. The fault lies not with Charlie Cox, who is willing to embrace the silliness and cringe required by the bizarre setting. Cox exhibits a endearing lack of ego that supplies a significant portion of the appeal for this ostensibly perfect couple. Anna's portrayer, in her typical fashion, imparts a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna seems a bit too dry, particularly when alongside Cox's genuine sadness. (It should be noted, the canine performer succeeds in acting depressed – he may not be a canine thespian of that caliber, he's definitely a very good boy.)
The story strives to give weight to the central romance for scenes without their pet – a bit of a pity, considering the title character is easily the most adorable aspect of this cute-aiming movie. Expectedly, it meets the bare minimum. The catalyst for the split could have been more nuanced with less exposition and fewer direct statements. As it stands, Merv is slight and sweet, fulfilling precisely what you anticipate. Creating a movie on this shared-custody premise is not terrible – even if it's hardly a great one either.
- Merv premieres on the Amazon platform on December 10th.
