This is a widely held belief in certain circles that jointly caring for a canine companion post-separation is a recipe for trouble. The consensus suggests such setups impede individuals from moving forward, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and become annoying for everyone involved. As it turns out, in a revelation worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it also makes our furry friends to experience sadness.
While respecting the mental health of animals – many owners attest to their deep emotional capacity. For a standout portrayal in pet despair, consider recent cinema. I firmly believe that a dog such as Merv, a scruffy terrier type brought to life by the canine actor Gus, would have a hard time adjusting to divided living arrangements. Whether this premise a full holiday film on this conflict holds water seems rather doubtful.Standard Holiday Fare
Honestly, Merv, written by the writing duo and directed by director Swale, makes no grand claims more profound than its premise. It functions as a seasonal offering from a streaming platform giant – the depth remains surface-level. The plot proves to be straightforward: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their individual funk is surpassed by their dog's, take a therapeutic trip to a canine-centric retreat. At this location, predictably, they will presumably realize the idea that they should reunite. Ensemble players – featuring Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually is reminiscent of a branded content, with a wintry atmosphere that is clearly manufactured – as seen in flurries surrounding lush pines as a warm climate substitutes for a wintery Boston.
The Dog's Domain
How these standard ingredients come together into a pleasant experience depends on the execution and one's taste for easy entertainment. For the comfort factor, Merv hones in on a demographic – individuals who scroll endlessly for pet content. It provides a series of scenes focused on the pet. The primary selling point is the canine star, and while this leads to some stilted moments between the pet's "lines" and people's faces, the movie does offer canine party antics, canine sorrow, and, ultimately, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Two-Legged Cast
The same praise cannot be applied for the interpersonal drama. The tone vacillates between serious study, wacky comedy, standard rom-com beats, and silly gags, failing to master a consistent feel. This is not Cox's performance, who is willing to embrace the absurd and awkward demanded of the dog resort scenario. He brings a charming humility that provides much of the film's charm for this ostensibly perfect couple. Anna's portrayer, 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, notably when contrasted against Cox's genuine sadness. (On another note, the canine performer is convincing at looking despondent – not quite the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he's definitely a scene-stealer.)
The film attempts to give weight to the central romance for moments when the dog is absent – a bit of a pity, given that the dog is undoubtedly the cutest element of this cute-aiming movie. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The cause for the split could have been more nuanced with greater exploration and fewer direct statements. In the end, Merv is light and sugary, hitting all its marks. Crafting a story about dog co-parenting is not terrible – even if it's hardly a brilliant concept.
- Merv becomes available on Prime Video starting December 10.
