This is a widely held belief for numerous people that jointly caring for a canine companion following a split is ill-advised. Experts frequently claim such arrangements hinder former couples from moving forward, create logistical nightmares, spark arguments, and prove frustrating across the board. Seemingly, as a development fit for a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause the dogs themselves to feel down.
Without minimizing the inner life of animals – pet parents speak of their deep emotional capacity. For a standout portrayal in dog sorrow, one need only look recent cinema. I firmly believe that a dog such as Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix brought to life by a talented dog named Gus, would have a hard time coping with life in two homes. The idea of basing a full holiday film on such a setup works effectively remains debatable at best.Predictable Foundations
To its credit, Merv, written by the writing duo and under the guidance of playwright Jessica Swale, never aspires to be more profound than a light film. This is a Christmas movie from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the depth is limited. The plot is destined to be straightforward: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their own sadness is matched by their dog's, take a uplifting getaway to a luxury pet hotel. Once there, as expected, they will presumably realize the idea that they should reunite. Side characters – featuring familiar faces – serve as the usual assortment of types. Its aesthetic carries the feel of a streaming service original, with a wintry atmosphere that is visibly contrived – exemplified by flurries surrounding lush pines as North Carolina substitutes for a wintery Boston.
The Dog's Domain
How these standard ingredients come together into a pleasant experience depends on the actors' work and one's taste for comfort viewing. Regarding the second aspect, Merv targets a specific viewer – those people who seek out for cute animal clips. It provides a series of adorable dog montages. The main attraction is the canine star, and even if it causes some awkward editing between animal action and people's faces, the movie delivers on dog beach fun, pet moping, and, ultimately, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Human Element
Such effectiveness cannot be applied for the human side of the story. Its style shifts uneasily between relationship drama, broad humor, formulaic romance, and physical comedy, never fully committing to a consistent feel. The fault lies not with the actor playing Russ, who is willing to embrace the humiliating and funny demanded of the dog resort scenario. He brings a charming humility that offers a significant portion of the appeal for this ostensibly perfect couple. Anna's portrayer, in her typical fashion, brings a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal comes across as a bit too dry, notably when contrasted against Cox's genuine sadness. (On another note, Gus the Dog is convincing at flopping and whining – while no a canine thespian of that caliber, he remains a very good boy.)
The story strives to add substance to the central romance for scenes without their pet – which is unfortunate, considering Merv is easily the best part of this cute-aiming movie. As one might predict, it achieves only baseline competence. The cause for their original breakup might seem more adult and realistic with more screen time and more subtle storytelling. Ultimately, Merv is gentle and pleasant, fulfilling every expected note. Crafting a story with this canine conflict isn't a bad idea – even if it's not exactly a great one either.
- Merv becomes available on the Amazon platform on December 10th.
