It is an often-repeated piece of advice among many that jointly caring for a dog after a breakup is a recipe for trouble. The consensus suggests such situations hinder individuals from healing, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and are a nuisance for everyone involved. Seemingly, and in a twist worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it also makes the canine in question to experience sadness.
Not to downplay the emotional well-being of animals – many owners speak of their deep emotional capacity. If you need masterclass in pet despair, one need only look another performance. It seems certain that a dog like Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix portrayed by the canine actor Gus, would find it difficult adapting to divided living arrangements. If this concept a full holiday film on such a setup works effectively seems debatable at best.Predictable Foundations
To its credit, Merv, the work of its screenwriters and directed by playwright Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims more profound than its premise. We have here a holiday release from a corporate studio – the complexity is limited. The plot is destined to be straightforward: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their own sadness is surpassed by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a dog-friendly resort. Once there, as expected, they will presumably rediscover the idea that they are better together. Side characters – including Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – fulfill roles the usual assortment of types. Visually carries the feel of a platform's in-house production, with a wintry atmosphere that is visibly contrived – exemplified by flurries piled on verdant foliage as North Carolina doubles as a wintery Boston.
The Dog's Domain
If these familiar elements merge into a pleasant experience rests upon the execution and an acceptance of easy entertainment. Regarding the second aspect, Merv hones in on a demographic – individuals who seek out for cute animal clips. Audiences receive a series of canine-centric sequences. The central draw is the canine star, and while this leads to some stilted moments between what the dog does and people's faces, the movie succeeds in showing canine party antics, canine sorrow, and, finally, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Human Element
Such effectiveness is not earned for the human side of the story. The tone vacillates between emotional depth, wacky comedy, predictable love story, and outright slapstick, not quite landing a single genre. The fault lies not with Charlie Cox, who is willing to embrace the humiliating and funny demanded of the unusual premise. His performance contains a endearing lack of ego that offers much of the film's charm for this on-the-rocks couple. Zooey Deschanel, in her typical fashion, injects a certain millennial quirkiness that will click for some but not others. The character comes across as a touch too detached, notably when alongside Cox's vulnerable performance. (For what it's worth, the canine performer manages acting depressed – while no the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he remains an excellent dog.)
The film attempts to add substance to the couple's history for scenes without their pet – a regrettable choice, given that the title character is by far the most adorable aspect of this film designed for charm. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The cause for their separation would feel more nuanced with more screen time and fewer direct statements. As it stands, Merv is slight and sweet, meeting all its marks. Making a film on this shared-custody premise has potential – even if it's hardly a stroke of genius.
- Merv becomes available on Prime Video starting December 10.
