This is a widely held belief for numerous people that jointly caring for a canine companion following a split is a terrible idea. The consensus suggests such arrangements hinder individuals from moving forward, create logistical nightmares, lead to tension, and are a nuisance across the board. Seemingly, and in a twist suited to a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to the dogs themselves to become depressed.
Without minimizing the emotional well-being of animals – many owners attest to their deep emotional capacity. To witness a prime example in dog sorrow, one need only look recent cinema. There is little doubt that a dog of Merv's nature, a spirited little dog portrayed by a talented dog named Gus, would have a hard time coping with divided living arrangements. Whether this premise a feature-length romcom on such a setup works effectively is debatable at best.Predictable Foundations
Fairness demands noting, Merv, written by the writing duo and helmed by director Swale, makes no grand claims deeper than a light film. This is a Christmas movie from a streaming platform giant – the complexity remains surface-level. 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, decide on a therapeutic trip to a luxury pet hotel. There, inevitably, they will surely rediscover the idea that they belong with each other. Side characters – played by familiar faces – fulfill roles eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. The film's look has the quality of a platform's in-house production, with a Christmas setting that is clearly manufactured – as seen in fake snow piled on green trees as a summer location stands in for a cold December city.
The Canine Charisma
Whether these predictable parts merge into something enjoyable hinges on the execution and one's taste for easy entertainment. Regarding the second aspect, Merv knows its audience – those people who scroll endlessly for dog videos. It provides a plethora of scenes focused on the pet. The primary selling point is Merv himself, and while this leads to some clunky cuts between animal action and the actors' responses, the movie succeeds in showing dog beach fun, canine sorrow, and, ultimately, pure puppy happiness.
Where It Wobbles
The same praise does not extend for the romantic plot. Its style shifts uneasily between serious study, wacky comedy, predictable love story, and silly gags, never fully committing to a single genre. No blame falls on Cox's performance, who is admirably committed the absurd and awkward required by the bizarre setting. Cox exhibits a endearing lack of ego that provides much of the film's charm for this seemingly ideal couple. Zooey Deschanel, true to her usual style, brings a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. The character can feel a touch too detached, particularly when alongside Cox's vulnerable performance. (It should be noted, the canine performer succeeds in flopping and whining – while no a canine thespian of that caliber, he's definitely an excellent dog.)
The film attempts to give weight to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – a bit of a pity, given that Merv is undoubtedly the most adorable aspect of this feel-good picture. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The cause for their original breakup could have been more grounded and mature with more screen time and less blunt explanation. Ultimately, Merv is gentle and pleasant, meeting precisely what you anticipate. Creating a movie with this canine conflict has potential – even if it's not exactly a stroke of genius.
- Merv streams on Amazon Prime Video on December 10th.
