This is a common warning for numerous people that sharing custody a dog post-separation is ill-advised. Experts frequently claim such setups prevent individuals from healing, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and are a nuisance across the board. Seemingly, and in a twist worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it also makes the canine in question to experience sadness.
Without minimizing the mental health of dogs – countless people attest to their remarkable empathy. If you need standout portrayal in pet despair, consider recent cinema. There is little doubt that a dog of Merv's nature, a wired-hair terrier mix portrayed by a talented dog named Gus, would struggle adapting to divided living arrangements. The idea of basing a full holiday film on such a setup holds water seems a questionable prospect.Predictable Foundations
Fairness demands noting, Merv, the work of Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and directed by playwright Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims more profound than its premise. It functions as a Christmas movie from a corporate studio – the ambitions is limited. The narrative unfolds as simple and direct: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their post-breakup gloom is surpassed by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a dog-friendly resort. At this location, predictably, they will presumably realize the idea that they are better together. The supporting cast – including Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – are crafted as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Visually is reminiscent of a streaming service original, with a holiday backdrop that is obviously artificial – as seen in flurries piled on verdant foliage as a warm climate substitutes for a cold December city.
The Canine Charisma
Whether these familiar elements come together into a pleasant experience depends on the execution and one's taste for comfort viewing. Regarding the second aspect, Merv targets a specific viewer – individuals who seek out for cute animal clips. The film delivers a wealth of scenes focused on the pet. The primary selling point is Merv himself, and while this leads to some awkward editing between animal action and human reaction, the movie succeeds in showing canine party antics, dog depression, and, finally, pure puppy happiness.
The Two-Legged Cast
Such effectiveness is not earned for the romantic plot. The tone vacillates between emotional depth, broad humor, predictable love story, and silly gags, never fully committing to any one mode. This is not Charlie Cox, who is fully game the humiliating and funny required by the dog resort scenario. Cox exhibits a likable self-deprecation that provides much of the film's charm for this ostensibly perfect couple. Her co-star Deschanel, in her typical fashion, injects a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. The character seems a bit too dry, notably when alongside Cox's vulnerable performance. (On another note, Merv himself manages flopping and whining – while no Messi from that acclaimed drama, he's definitely a very good boy.)
The film attempts to give weight to Anna and Russ's relationship for scenes without their pet – a regrettable choice, given that Merv is by far the most adorable aspect of this film designed for charm. Unsurprisingly, it achieves only baseline competence. The cause for their original breakup might seem more grounded and mature with more screen time and less blunt explanation. As it stands, Merv is gentle and pleasant, meeting every expected note. Making a film with this canine conflict isn't a bad idea – though it's not exactly a brilliant concept.
- Merv becomes available on Prime Video this December.
