It is a common warning for numerous people that sharing custody a canine companion following a split is a terrible idea. Experts frequently claim such arrangements impede ex-partners from healing, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and are a nuisance for everyone involved. As it turns out, in a revelation fit for a direct-to-platform film, it also makes the canine in question to feel down.
While respecting the emotional well-being of dogs – pet parents observe their profound sensitivity. If you need masterclass in canine melancholy, consider a past film. It seems certain that a dog of Merv's nature, a wired-hair terrier mix brought to life by a talented dog named Gus, would have a hard time adjusting to divided living arrangements. If this concept a feature-length romcom on such a setup holds water seems a questionable prospect.A Familiar Formula
Honestly, Merv, crafted by the writing duo and helmed by Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be anything more than a light film. It functions as a Christmas movie from a corporate studio – the ambitions remains surface-level. The plot unfolds as straightforward: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their own sadness is matched by their dog's, decide on a therapeutic trip to a dog-friendly resort. There, inevitably, they will undoubtedly stumble toward the idea that they belong with each other. Ensemble players – featuring familiar faces – fulfill roles quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually has the quality of a platform's in-house production, with a Christmas setting that is clearly manufactured – exemplified by flurries clinging to green trees as a warm climate substitutes for a cold December city.
The Dog's Domain
If these standard ingredients merge into a pleasant experience depends on the actors' work and the viewer's appetite for easy entertainment. Regarding the second aspect, Merv hones in on a demographic – the kind who browse regularly for dog videos. It provides a wealth of canine-centric sequences. The primary selling point is the dog, and though it results in some stilted moments between what the dog does and the actors' responses, the movie delivers on walking sequences, pet moping, and, ultimately, pure puppy happiness.
The Two-Legged Cast
This level of success cannot be applied for the romantic plot. The film's approach wavers between relationship drama, zany antics, predictable love story, and physical comedy, never fully committing to a consistent feel. This is not Charlie Cox, who is admirably committed the humiliating and funny inherent in the bizarre setting. Cox exhibits a likable self-deprecation that provides the bulk of the chemistry for this seemingly ideal couple. Zooey Deschanel, true to her usual style, imparts a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. The character can feel a touch too detached, especially when paired with Cox's genuine sadness. (On another note, Gus the Dog manages acting depressed – not quite the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he is still a scene-stealer.)
Merv tries to add substance to the central romance for scenes without their pet – a bit of a pity, given that the title character is by far the most adorable aspect of this cute-aiming movie. Unsurprisingly, it meets the bare minimum. The reason for their separation might seem more grounded and mature with more screen time and more subtle storytelling. As it stands, Merv is light and sugary, fulfilling all its marks. Crafting a story with this canine conflict is not terrible – but it's hardly a great one either.
- Merv streams on the Amazon platform on December 10th.
