It is a widely held belief among many that sharing custody a pet following a split is a terrible idea. Most will argue such arrangements hinder former couples from moving forward, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and become annoying for all parties. Apparently, and in a twist suited to a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause our furry friends to become depressed.
Not to downplay the inner life of dogs – countless people attest to their profound sensitivity. If you need masterclass in canine melancholy, one need only look another performance. It seems certain that a dog of Merv's nature, a scruffy terrier type portrayed by the canine actor Gus, would have a hard time coping with split households. The idea of basing a full holiday film on this conflict works effectively remains debatable at best.A Familiar Formula
Fairness demands noting, Merv, the work of the writing duo and directed by Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be anything more than what it is. It functions as a holiday release from a streaming platform giant – the complexity is limited. The plot is destined to be simple and direct: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (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 realize the idea that they should reunite. The supporting cast – played by familiar faces – are crafted as the usual assortment of types. The film's look is reminiscent of a streaming service original, with a wintry atmosphere that is obviously artificial – as seen in flurries clinging to green trees as a warm climate substitutes for a wintery Boston.
The Canine Charisma
How these standard ingredients coalesce into an entertaining watch depends on the execution and one's taste for comfort viewing. On the latter point, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. The film delivers a wealth of canine-centric sequences. The main attraction is the dog, and even if it causes some stilted moments between what the dog does and people's faces, the movie delivers on walking sequences, canine sorrow, and, finally, a tail-wagging resolution.
Where It Wobbles
This level of success does not extend for the romantic plot. Its style wavers between emotional depth, broad humor, predictable love story, and silly gags, failing to master a consistent feel. This is not the actor playing Russ, who is willing to embrace the silliness and cringe inherent in the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a endearing lack of ego that offers a significant portion of the appeal for this ostensibly perfect couple. Her co-star Deschanel, as is her trademark, injects a certain millennial quirkiness that will either resonate with viewers. Her portrayal comes across as a little too aloof, particularly when alongside Cox's vulnerable performance. (It should be noted, Gus the Dog is convincing at acting depressed – while no the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he remains a very good boy.)
The story strives to add substance to the couple's history for scenes without their pet – a regrettable choice, given that the title character is undoubtedly the best part of this feel-good picture. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The cause for their separation could have been more adult and realistic with less exposition and fewer direct statements. Ultimately, Merv is gentle and pleasant, hitting precisely what you anticipate. Making a film with this canine conflict is not terrible – though it's not exactly a stroke of genius.
- Merv premieres on Amazon Prime Video starting December 10.