It is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that jointly caring for a canine companion following a split is a recipe for trouble. Most will argue such situations prevent individuals from healing, lead to scheduling chaos, lead to tension, and are a nuisance for everyone involved. Apparently, as a development suited to a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to the canine in question to become depressed.
Not to downplay the inner life of our pets – countless people speak of their profound sensitivity. For a prime example in pet despair, one need only look recent cinema. It seems certain that a dog of Merv's nature, a scruffy terrier type brought to life by a talented dog named Gus, would find it difficult coping with life in two homes. If this concept a full holiday film on this conflict is sustainable seems rather doubtful.Standard Holiday Fare
To its credit, Merv, the work of its screenwriters and directed by director Swale, never aspires to be deeper than its premise. This is a seasonal offering from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the depth is limited. The plot is destined to be uncomplicated: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), realizing that their own sadness is surpassed by their dog's, decide on a therapeutic trip to a luxury pet hotel. There, inevitably, they will surely stumble toward the idea that they are better together. Side characters – featuring a group of comedic actors – serve as the usual assortment of types. The film's look is reminiscent of a branded content, with a Christmas setting that is obviously artificial – think obvious snow effects surrounding verdant foliage as a warm climate doubles as a wintery Boston.
The Canine Charisma
How these standard ingredients come together into an entertaining watch depends on the strength of the performances and the viewer's appetite for easy entertainment. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – individuals who seek out for dog videos. Audiences receive a wealth of adorable dog montages. The main attraction is Merv himself, and even if it causes some stilted moments between animal action and the actors' responses, the movie delivers on walking sequences, canine sorrow, and, finally, doggie joy.
The Human Element
This level of success cannot be applied for the human side of the story. The tone vacillates between serious study, zany antics, predictable love story, and physical comedy, failing to master a consistent feel. No blame falls on Charlie Cox, who is willing to embrace the silliness and cringe inherent in the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a likable self-deprecation that supplies a significant portion of the appeal for this ostensibly perfect couple. Zooey Deschanel, true to her usual style, injects a particular brand of eccentricity that will click for some but not others. The character can feel a touch too detached, notably when contrasted against Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (For what it's worth, the canine performer succeeds in acting depressed – he may not be the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he remains a scene-stealer.)
The film attempts to give weight to the central romance for sequences focusing solely on them – a bit of a pity, since the title character is by far the best part of this feel-good picture. Expectedly, it meets the bare minimum. The reason for their original breakup would feel more nuanced with greater exploration and fewer direct statements. Ultimately, Merv is gentle and pleasant, hitting precisely what you anticipate. Creating a movie on this shared-custody premise isn't a bad idea – but it's not exactly a brilliant concept.
- Merv becomes available on Amazon Prime Video on December 10th.
