It is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that sharing custody a pet post-separation is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such arrangements prevent former couples from finding closure, lead to scheduling chaos, lead to tension, and become annoying for all parties. Apparently, and in a twist fit for a direct-to-platform film, it also makes the canine in question to experience sadness.
Without minimizing the mental health of dogs – many owners speak of their deep emotional capacity. To witness a masterclass in dog sorrow, one need only look recent cinema. There is little doubt that a dog such as Merv, a spirited little dog played by the canine actor Gus, would struggle coping with divided living arrangements. If this concept an entire Christmas romance on such a setup works effectively remains a questionable prospect.Standard Holiday Fare
To its credit, Merv, crafted by the writing duo and helmed by playwright Jessica Swale, never aspires to be deeper than a light film. It functions as a Christmas movie from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the ambitions are modest. The narrative unfolds as straightforward: exes Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their own sadness is surpassed by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a dog-friendly resort. There, inevitably, they will presumably stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. The supporting cast – featuring Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – fulfill roles the usual assortment of types. Its aesthetic is reminiscent of a branded content, with a wintry atmosphere that is clearly manufactured – exemplified by obvious snow effects piled on verdant foliage as a warm climate substitutes for the Northeast.
The Canine Charisma
If these predictable parts come together into a pleasant experience depends on the strength of the performances and one's taste for comfort viewing. On the latter point, Merv hones in on a demographic – those people who seek out for cute animal clips. The film delivers a plethora of adorable dog montages. The central draw is the dog, and though it results in some stilted moments between animal action and the actors' responses, the movie delivers on dog beach fun, pet moping, and, in the end, pure puppy happiness.
Where It Wobbles
The same praise cannot be applied for the human side of the story. Its style wavers between emotional depth, zany antics, formulaic romance, and physical comedy, not quite landing any one mode. No blame falls on the actor playing Russ, who is willing to embrace the silliness and cringe required by the dog resort scenario. Cox exhibits a charming humility that offers a significant portion of the appeal for this ostensibly perfect couple. Zooey Deschanel, as is her trademark, imparts a distinctive offbeat energy that will click for some but not others. Her Anna comes across as a little too aloof, notably when contrasted against Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (On another note, Gus the Dog manages flopping and whining – he may not be the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he's definitely an excellent dog.)
The film attempts to provide depth to the central romance for sequences focusing solely on them – a regrettable choice, considering the dog is easily the most adorable aspect of this film designed for charm. Expectedly, it achieves only baseline competence. The cause for their separation could have been more nuanced with greater exploration and fewer direct statements. Ultimately, Merv is light and sugary, fulfilling every expected note. Crafting a story with this canine conflict is not terrible – but it's hardly a stroke of genius.
- Merv becomes available on the Amazon platform starting December 10.
