It is a common warning in certain circles that jointly caring for a canine companion post-separation is a terrible idea. Most will argue such setups hinder ex-partners from finding closure, create logistical nightmares, spark arguments, and prove frustrating across the board. As it turns out, as a development suited to a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to the dogs themselves to experience sadness.
Without minimizing the emotional well-being of animals – countless people attest to their deep emotional capacity. For a prime example in canine melancholy, simply recall another performance. It seems certain that a dog of Merv's nature, a scruffy terrier type played by a talented dog named Gus, would find it difficult adapting to split households. The idea of basing a full holiday film on such a setup works effectively is debatable at best.Standard Holiday Fare
Fairness demands noting, Merv, the work of Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and directed by director Swale, makes no grand claims more profound than its premise. We have here a Christmas movie from a corporate studio – the ambitions is limited. Its storyline proves to be straightforward: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their own sadness is matched by their dog's, decide on a therapeutic trip to a luxury pet hotel. There, inevitably, they will undoubtedly stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. Side characters – featuring familiar faces – are crafted as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. The film's look is reminiscent of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is clearly manufactured – think fake snow surrounding verdant foliage as North Carolina substitutes for the Northeast.
The Dog's Domain
If these standard ingredients coalesce into a pleasant experience depends on the execution and an acceptance of easy entertainment. Regarding the second aspect, Merv targets a specific viewer – individuals who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. The film delivers a plethora of canine-centric sequences. The central draw is Merv himself, and though it results in some stilted moments between animal action and human reaction, the movie does offer walking sequences, dog depression, and, ultimately, pure puppy happiness.
The Human Element
Such effectiveness does not extend for the romantic plot. The tone shifts uneasily between relationship drama, broad humor, formulaic romance, and silly gags, failing to master a consistent feel. The fault lies not with Charlie Cox, who is willing to embrace the absurd and awkward demanded of the unusual premise. He brings a endearing lack of ego that supplies much of the film's charm for this seemingly ideal couple. Zooey Deschanel, in her typical fashion, injects a distinctive offbeat energy that will either resonate with viewers. Her Anna seems a little too aloof, notably when paired with Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (For what it's worth, the canine performer succeeds in looking despondent – he may not be Messi from that acclaimed drama, he is still a very good boy.)
The story strives to provide depth to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – which is unfortunate, considering the title character is by far the best part of this film designed for charm. Unsurprisingly, it meets the bare minimum. The cause for their separation could have been more nuanced with more screen time and fewer direct statements. As it stands, Merv is slight and sweet, hitting all its marks. Crafting a story about dog co-parenting isn't a bad idea – though it's hardly a brilliant concept.
- Merv premieres on the Amazon platform this December.
