It is a widely held belief in certain circles that sharing custody a canine companion after a breakup is ill-advised. Most will argue such situations prevent individuals from finding closure, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and become annoying for everyone involved. Apparently, and in a twist suited to a direct-to-platform film, it also makes our furry friends to become depressed.
Not to downplay the inner life of animals – pet parents observe their profound sensitivity. To witness a masterclass in canine melancholy, one need only look recent cinema. There is little doubt that a dog of Merv's nature, a scruffy terrier type portrayed by a talented dog named Gus, would struggle adapting to life in two homes. Whether this premise an entire Christmas romance on this conflict works effectively seems a questionable prospect.A Familiar Formula
Fairness demands noting, Merv, crafted by its screenwriters and helmed by playwright Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims more profound than a light film. This is a holiday release from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the complexity remains surface-level. The plot proves to be simple and direct: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their post-breakup gloom is rivaled only by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. There, inevitably, they will surely realize the idea that they belong with each other. The supporting cast – featuring Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – fulfill roles the usual assortment of types. Visually has the quality of a branded content, with a Christmas setting that is obviously artificial – think fake snow surrounding verdant foliage as a summer location substitutes for a wintery Boston.
The Canine Charisma
How these familiar elements merge into something enjoyable rests upon the actors' work and an acceptance of easy entertainment. Regarding the second aspect, Merv knows its audience – those people who scroll endlessly for dog videos. It provides a series of scenes focused on the pet. The central draw is Merv himself, and while this leads to some clunky cuts between what the dog does and human reaction, the movie succeeds in showing canine party antics, pet moping, and, in the end, pure puppy happiness.
The Human Element
Such effectiveness cannot be applied for the romantic plot. Its style shifts uneasily between relationship drama, broad humor, formulaic romance, and physical comedy, failing to master any one mode. No blame falls on the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the absurd and awkward demanded of the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a endearing lack of ego that offers much of the film's charm for this ostensibly perfect couple. Anna's portrayer, true to her usual style, brings a particular brand of eccentricity that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna seems a bit too dry, notably when paired with Cox's genuine sadness. (It should be noted, Merv himself succeeds in flopping and whining – not quite a canine thespian of that caliber, he remains a scene-stealer.)
The film attempts to give weight to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – a regrettable choice, given that the title character is by far the best part of this feel-good picture. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The catalyst for the split could have been more grounded and mature with less exposition and fewer direct statements. Ultimately, Merv is light and sugary, fulfilling all its marks. Crafting a story with this canine conflict is not terrible – even if it's hardly a great one either.
- Merv becomes available on Amazon Prime Video this December.
