This is a widely held belief among many that jointly caring for a canine companion following a split is ill-advised. Most will argue such arrangements hinder ex-partners from finding closure, lead to scheduling chaos, spark arguments, and become annoying across the board. As it turns out, in a revelation fit for a streaming movie, it also makes the canine in question to become depressed.
While respecting the inner life of our pets – many owners attest to their deep emotional capacity. If you need standout portrayal in canine melancholy, consider a past film. There is little doubt that a dog of Merv's nature, a wired-hair terrier mix brought to life by the canine actor Gus, would have a hard time adapting to divided living arrangements. The idea of basing a full holiday film around this situation works effectively seems debatable at best.Predictable Foundations
Fairness demands noting, Merv, written by its screenwriters and helmed by Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be anything more than its premise. This is a holiday release from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the complexity are modest. Its storyline proves to be simple and direct: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their own sadness is rivaled only by their dog's, embark on a therapeutic trip to a luxury pet hotel. Once there, as expected, they will presumably rediscover the idea that they belong with each other. The supporting cast – including Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually is reminiscent of a platform's in-house production, with a Christmas setting that is visibly contrived – as seen in flurries piled on green trees as North Carolina substitutes for a wintery Boston.
The Dog's Domain
If these predictable parts coalesce into an entertaining watch hinges on the strength of the performances and the viewer's appetite for easy entertainment. For the comfort factor, Merv hones in on a demographic – those people who browse regularly for dog videos. It provides a plethora of adorable dog montages. The main attraction is Merv himself, and even if it causes some awkward editing between what the dog does and the actors' responses, the movie succeeds in showing dog beach fun, pet moping, and, ultimately, doggie joy.
Where It Wobbles
Such effectiveness is not earned for the romantic plot. Its style shifts uneasily between relationship drama, broad humor, standard rom-com beats, and physical comedy, not quite landing a consistent feel. This is not Cox's performance, who is fully game the silliness and cringe required by the bizarre setting. He brings a charming humility that offers a significant portion of the appeal for this seemingly ideal couple. Zooey Deschanel, as is her trademark, injects a distinctive offbeat energy that will either resonate with viewers. Her portrayal comes across as a little too aloof, particularly when contrasted against Cox's genuine sadness. (It should be noted, the canine performer manages looking despondent – while no the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he remains an excellent dog.)
Merv tries to provide depth to the central romance for moments when the dog is absent – which is unfortunate, since the title character is by far the most adorable aspect of this feel-good picture. Unsurprisingly, it achieves only baseline competence. The catalyst for their original breakup could have been more nuanced with more screen time and less blunt explanation. Ultimately, Merv is gentle and pleasant, meeting every expected note. Making a film about dog co-parenting is not terrible – but it's hardly a great one either.
- Merv becomes available on the Amazon platform starting December 10.
