It is a widely held belief for numerous people that jointly caring for a dog after a breakup is ill-advised. Experts frequently claim such situations hinder former couples from healing, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and prove frustrating for all parties. Seemingly, in a revelation suited to a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause the dogs themselves to become depressed.
Not to downplay the mental health of dogs – countless people speak of their remarkable empathy. If you need standout portrayal in pet despair, simply recall a past film. There is little doubt that a dog such as Merv, a scruffy terrier type portrayed by a talented dog named Gus, would have a hard time adjusting to split households. Whether this premise an entire Christmas romance on such a setup works effectively is rather doubtful.Standard Holiday Fare
Honestly, Merv, the work of the writing duo and directed by director Swale, never aspires to be deeper than its premise. We have here a holiday release from a streaming platform giant – the complexity is limited. Its storyline proves to be simple and direct: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their own sadness is rivaled only by their dog's, decide on a uplifting getaway to a canine-centric retreat. Once there, as expected, they will surely rediscover the idea that they should reunite. The supporting cast – including Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – serve as the usual assortment of types. Its aesthetic is reminiscent of a branded content, with a holiday backdrop that is clearly manufactured – think flurries surrounding verdant foliage as North Carolina substitutes for a cold December city.
The Canine Charisma
If these standard ingredients merge into a pleasant experience hinges on the strength of the performances and one's taste for comfort viewing. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who scroll endlessly for dog videos. It provides a wealth of scenes focused on the pet. The main attraction is the dog, and even if it causes some clunky cuts between what the dog does and people's faces, the movie succeeds in showing dog beach fun, pet moping, and, in the end, doggie joy.
The Two-Legged Cast
Such effectiveness cannot be applied for the human side of the story. The tone vacillates between relationship drama, wacky comedy, predictable love story, and silly gags, not quite landing any one mode. This is not the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the silliness and cringe demanded of the unusual premise. He brings a endearing lack of ego that provides the bulk of the chemistry for this seemingly ideal couple. Zooey Deschanel, as is her trademark, imparts a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. The character can feel a bit too dry, notably when contrasted against Cox's vulnerable performance. (It should be noted, the canine performer succeeds in flopping and whining – he may not be Messi from that acclaimed drama, he is still a very good boy.)
The film attempts to give weight to Anna and Russ's relationship for moments when the dog is absent – which is unfortunate, considering Merv is easily the best part of this cute-aiming movie. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The cause for their separation would feel more grounded and mature with more screen time and fewer direct statements. As it stands, Merv is slight and sweet, hitting all its marks. Making a film on this shared-custody premise is not terrible – but I wouldn't call it a stroke of genius.
- Merv premieres on Prime Video on December 10th.
