This is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that jointly caring for a dog post-separation is a terrible idea. The consensus suggests such situations prevent individuals from moving forward, create logistical nightmares, spark arguments, and prove frustrating across the board. As it turns out, in a revelation worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause the canine in question to feel down.
While respecting the inner life of animals – countless people attest to their deep emotional capacity. For a masterclass in dog sorrow, simply recall another performance. I firmly believe that a dog of Merv's nature, a spirited little dog played by a talented dog named Gus, would have a hard time adjusting to split households. If this concept a full holiday film on this conflict holds water seems a questionable prospect.Standard Holiday Fare
Honestly, Merv, written by its screenwriters and helmed by director Swale, never aspires to be deeper than what it is. We have here a seasonal offering from a streaming platform giant – the depth are modest. Its storyline unfolds as straightforward: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their own sadness is rivaled only by their dog's, decide on a uplifting getaway to a luxury pet hotel. Once there, as expected, they will presumably stumble toward the idea that they are better together. The supporting cast – played by familiar faces – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic is reminiscent of a branded content, with a holiday backdrop that is obviously artificial – think fake snow piled on verdant foliage as a summer location doubles as a wintery Boston.
The Dog's Domain
How these familiar elements come together into something enjoyable rests upon the strength of the performances and one's taste for comfort viewing. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – individuals who browse regularly for pet content. Audiences receive a wealth of canine-centric sequences. The primary selling point is the dog, and even if it causes some stilted moments between the pet's "lines" and people's faces, the movie succeeds in showing walking sequences, dog depression, and, finally, pure puppy happiness.
The Human Element
This level of success cannot be applied for the interpersonal drama. Its style vacillates between relationship drama, zany antics, predictable love story, and outright slapstick, not quite landing a consistent feel. This is not Cox's performance, who is admirably committed the silliness and cringe inherent in the bizarre setting. He brings a endearing lack of ego that provides a significant portion of the appeal for this on-the-rocks couple. Anna's portrayer, as is her trademark, brings a particular brand of eccentricity that will click for some but not others. The character can feel a little too aloof, notably when paired with Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (For what it's worth, the canine performer succeeds in acting depressed – while no the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he is still a very good boy.)
The film attempts to provide depth to the central romance for sequences focusing solely on them – a bit of a pity, given that Merv is by far the most adorable aspect of this cute-aiming movie. As one might predict, it meets the bare minimum. The reason for the split would feel more grounded and mature with less exposition and less blunt explanation. Ultimately, Merv is gentle and pleasant, fulfilling every expected note. Crafting a story on this shared-custody premise has potential – but it's not exactly a stroke of genius.
- Merv becomes available on Amazon Prime Video on December 10th.
