It is a widely held belief among many that jointly caring for a dog after a breakup is a terrible idea. Most will argue such arrangements hinder ex-partners from healing, create logistical nightmares, fuel disputes, and prove frustrating for everyone involved. Seemingly, in a revelation worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to the canine in question to experience sadness.
Without minimizing the mental health of dogs – pet parents attest to their deep emotional capacity. If you need prime example in pet despair, simply recall a past film. I firmly believe that a dog of Merv's nature, a spirited little dog brought to life by Gus the Dog, would find it difficult coping with split households. The idea of basing a full holiday film on such a setup works effectively is debatable at best.Predictable Foundations
Fairness demands noting, Merv, crafted by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and under the guidance of director Swale, makes no grand claims anything more than what it is. We have here a holiday release from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the ambitions is limited. The narrative unfolds as uncomplicated: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their own sadness is surpassed by their dog's, take a therapeutic trip to a dog-friendly resort. At this location, predictably, they will surely stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. Ensemble players – including a group of comedic actors – are crafted as the usual assortment of types. Visually has the quality of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is obviously artificial – as seen in flurries surrounding green trees as a summer location substitutes for a cold December city.
Where the Film Shines
Whether these standard ingredients merge into an entertaining watch depends on the strength of the performances and one's taste for comfort viewing. Regarding the second aspect, Merv knows its audience – the kind who seek out for cute animal clips. Audiences receive a wealth of scenes focused on the pet. The primary selling point is the canine star, and though it results in some awkward editing between the pet's "lines" and people's faces, the movie delivers on canine party antics, dog depression, and, finally, pure puppy happiness.
The Human Element
This level of success does not extend for the human side of the story. The tone vacillates between emotional depth, zany antics, standard rom-com beats, and physical comedy, never fully committing to a single genre. The fault lies not with the actor playing Russ, who is willing to embrace the silliness and cringe demanded of the dog resort scenario. He brings a charming humility that supplies a significant portion of the appeal for this ostensibly perfect couple. Anna's portrayer, in her typical fashion, injects a certain millennial quirkiness that will either resonate with viewers. The character seems a touch too detached, especially when contrasted against Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (For what it's worth, the canine performer is convincing at flopping and whining – not quite the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he's definitely a scene-stealer.)
The story strives to provide depth to the central romance for moments when the dog is absent – a bit of a pity, considering the title character is by far the most adorable aspect of this film designed for charm. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The reason for their original breakup might seem more grounded and mature with greater exploration and less blunt explanation. In the end, Merv is slight and sweet, hitting precisely what you anticipate. Creating a movie about dog co-parenting isn't a bad idea – but it's hardly a stroke of genius.
- Merv streams on the Amazon platform on December 10th.
