It is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that sharing custody a pet after a breakup is a terrible idea. The consensus suggests such setups hinder ex-partners from finding closure, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and are a nuisance across the board. Seemingly, in a revelation worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause our furry friends to feel down.
Not to downplay the emotional well-being of animals – countless people attest to their remarkable empathy. For a standout portrayal in canine melancholy, one need only look recent cinema. It seems certain that a dog like Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix portrayed by Gus the Dog, would struggle coping with divided living arrangements. The idea of basing a full holiday film on such a setup works effectively remains debatable at best.A Familiar Formula
Fairness demands noting, Merv, the work of its screenwriters and directed by playwright Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims deeper than a light film. We have here a Christmas movie from a streaming platform giant – the complexity is limited. Its storyline is destined to be straightforward: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their own sadness is matched by their dog's, decide on a cheer-up vacation to a canine-centric retreat. Once there, as expected, they will presumably realize the idea that they belong with each other. Side characters – including Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – fulfill roles the usual assortment of types. Visually has the quality of a platform's in-house production, with a wintry atmosphere that is obviously artificial – as seen in fake snow piled on green trees as a warm climate substitutes for a cold December city.
The Dog's Domain
How these predictable parts come together into something enjoyable depends on the strength of the performances and one's taste for easy entertainment. On the latter point, Merv knows its audience – individuals who seek out for dog videos. It provides a series of scenes focused on the pet. The main attraction is the canine star, and while this leads to some stilted moments between what the dog does and human reaction, the movie succeeds in showing walking sequences, dog depression, and, finally, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Two-Legged Cast
Such effectiveness does not extend for the human side of the story. The film's approach wavers between serious study, broad humor, formulaic romance, and outright slapstick, failing to master any one mode. This is not Cox's performance, who is willing to embrace the humiliating and funny required by the bizarre setting. His performance contains a endearing lack of ego that offers a significant portion of the appeal for this ostensibly perfect couple. Zooey Deschanel, as is her trademark, brings a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal seems a touch too detached, especially when paired with Cox's vulnerable performance. (It should be noted, the canine performer succeeds in acting depressed – while no the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he is still a scene-stealer.)
The film attempts to provide depth to the central romance for sequences focusing solely on them – which is unfortunate, considering Merv is undoubtedly the most adorable aspect of this feel-good picture. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The cause for their separation would feel more grounded and mature with more screen time and less blunt explanation. As it stands, Merv is light and sugary, fulfilling every expected note. Creating a movie with this canine conflict has potential – though it's not exactly a stroke of genius.
- Merv becomes available on the Amazon platform this December.
