It is a widely held belief among many that sharing custody a dog after a breakup is a terrible idea. Most will argue such arrangements hinder individuals from moving forward, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and are a nuisance for all parties. As it turns out, as a development suited to a direct-to-platform film, it also makes our furry friends to become depressed.
Without minimizing the emotional well-being of our pets – countless people observe their remarkable empathy. If you need prime example in dog sorrow, simply recall recent cinema. There is little doubt that a dog such as Merv, a spirited little dog portrayed by a talented dog named Gus, would have a hard time coping with split households. The idea of basing an entire Christmas romance on this conflict holds water is debatable at best.Predictable Foundations
To its credit, Merv, the work of its screenwriters and directed by director Swale, never aspires to be deeper than its premise. It functions as a Christmas movie from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the depth is limited. The plot unfolds as uncomplicated: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their individual funk is matched by their dog's, embark on a uplifting getaway to a dog-friendly resort. At this location, predictably, they will undoubtedly rediscover the idea that they are better together. The supporting cast – featuring a group of comedic actors – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually carries the feel of a branded content, with a wintry atmosphere that is visibly contrived – as seen in fake snow clinging to green trees as North Carolina substitutes for a wintery Boston.
The Canine Charisma
Whether these familiar elements come together into a pleasant experience rests upon the strength of the performances and an acceptance of cinematic comfort food. On the latter point, Merv knows its audience – those people who seek out for cute animal clips. The film delivers a series of scenes focused on the pet. The primary selling point is the canine star, and even if it causes some stilted moments between animal action and the actors' responses, the movie succeeds in showing dog beach fun, pet moping, and, ultimately, doggie joy.
Where It Wobbles
This level of success does not extend for the human side of the story. Its style vacillates between emotional depth, broad humor, standard rom-com beats, and outright slapstick, failing to master a single genre. This is not Charlie Cox, who is willing to embrace the silliness and cringe demanded of the dog resort scenario. Cox exhibits a likable self-deprecation that provides a significant portion of the appeal for this seemingly ideal couple. Zooey Deschanel, true to her usual style, brings a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. Her Anna comes across as a bit too dry, notably when alongside Cox's genuine sadness. (It should be noted, Merv himself succeeds in flopping and whining – not quite a canine thespian of that caliber, he's definitely a very good boy.)
The story strives to add substance to the central romance for sequences focusing solely on them – a regrettable choice, given that Merv is by far the most adorable aspect of this feel-good picture. Unsurprisingly, it just about gets by. The reason for their original breakup could have been more grounded and mature with more screen time and fewer direct statements. As it stands, Merv is slight and sweet, meeting precisely what you anticipate. Creating a movie about dog co-parenting has potential – but it's not exactly a brilliant concept.
- Merv becomes available on the Amazon platform this December.
