It is an often-repeated piece of advice in certain circles that jointly caring for a dog post-separation is a terrible idea. Most will argue such arrangements impede individuals from healing, lead to scheduling chaos, lead to tension, and become annoying for all parties. Seemingly, as a development fit for a streaming movie, it also makes the canine in question to become depressed.
Not to downplay the emotional well-being of animals – pet parents observe their remarkable empathy. For a prime example in dog sorrow, consider recent cinema. It seems certain that a dog of Merv's nature, a scruffy terrier type brought to life by the canine actor Gus, would find it difficult coping with divided living arrangements. The idea of basing a full holiday film around this situation works effectively is debatable at best.Predictable Foundations
To its credit, Merv, the work of its screenwriters and helmed by Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be deeper than what it is. We have here a seasonal offering from a corporate studio – the depth are modest. Its storyline proves to be straightforward: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their individual funk is matched by their dog's, decide on a uplifting getaway to a luxury pet hotel. There, inevitably, they will surely stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. The supporting cast – featuring a group of comedic actors – serve as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Its aesthetic carries the feel of a branded content, with a holiday backdrop that is clearly manufactured – as seen in obvious snow effects surrounding verdant foliage as North Carolina stands in for the Northeast.
The Canine Charisma
Whether these standard ingredients come together into something enjoyable rests upon the execution and one's taste for cinematic comfort food. Regarding the second aspect, Merv knows its audience – the kind who scroll endlessly for dog videos. It provides a wealth of scenes focused on the pet. The primary selling point is the dog, and while this leads to some clunky cuts between what the dog does and the actors' responses, the movie succeeds in showing dog beach fun, pet moping, and, in the end, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Two-Legged Cast
The same praise cannot be applied for the romantic plot. The tone shifts uneasily between relationship drama, broad humor, formulaic romance, and outright slapstick, not quite landing a single genre. This is not Cox's performance, who is admirably committed the silliness and cringe demanded of the bizarre setting. He brings a charming humility that supplies much of the film's charm for this ostensibly perfect couple. Her co-star Deschanel, in her typical fashion, injects a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal seems a little too aloof, especially when paired with Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (For what it's worth, the canine performer is convincing at looking despondent – he may not be a canine thespian of that caliber, he is still a scene-stealer.)
The story strives to provide depth to Anna and Russ's relationship for scenes without their pet – a regrettable choice, since the title character is undoubtedly the best part of this cute-aiming movie. Expectedly, it achieves only baseline competence. The catalyst for the split might seem more adult and realistic with less exposition and fewer direct statements. In the end, Merv is gentle and pleasant, meeting every expected note. Making a film with this canine conflict has potential – even if it's hardly a stroke of genius.
- Merv streams on the Amazon platform this December.
