This is a widely held belief in certain circles that jointly caring for a canine companion following a split is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such situations prevent individuals from finding closure, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and become annoying across the board. Seemingly, in a revelation worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to our furry friends to experience sadness.
While respecting the inner life of dogs – many owners observe their remarkable empathy. If you need standout portrayal in canine melancholy, simply recall recent cinema. I firmly believe that a dog of Merv's nature, a wired-hair terrier mix brought to life by the canine actor Gus, would struggle adapting to split households. Whether this premise an entire Christmas romance around this situation holds water remains a questionable prospect.Predictable Foundations
To its credit, Merv, written by its screenwriters and helmed by Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims anything more than what it is. We have here a Christmas movie from a streaming platform giant – the ambitions is limited. The plot proves to be simple and direct: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their individual funk is rivaled only by their dog's, embark on a therapeutic trip to a dog-friendly resort. At this location, predictably, they will surely realize the idea that they belong with each other. The supporting cast – featuring a group of comedic actors – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Its aesthetic carries the feel of a streaming service original, with a Christmas setting that is obviously artificial – think obvious snow effects surrounding lush pines as a summer location doubles as a wintery Boston.
Where the Film Shines
Whether these predictable parts come together into a pleasant experience rests upon the execution and an acceptance of comfort viewing. For the comfort factor, Merv knows its audience – the kind who browse regularly for cute animal clips. It provides a wealth of adorable dog montages. The primary selling point is Merv himself, and even if it causes some awkward editing between animal action and the actors' responses, the movie succeeds in showing dog beach fun, pet moping, and, ultimately, a tail-wagging resolution.
Where It Wobbles
This level of success cannot be applied for the interpersonal drama. The film's approach vacillates between relationship drama, broad humor, standard rom-com beats, and silly gags, failing to master a single genre. No blame falls on Charlie Cox, who is admirably committed the silliness and cringe demanded of 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, in her typical fashion, imparts a distinctive offbeat energy that will either resonate with viewers. The character can feel a touch too detached, especially when alongside Cox's vulnerable performance. (For what it's worth, Gus the Dog succeeds in acting depressed – while no a canine thespian of that caliber, he is still a very good boy.)
The film attempts to provide depth to Anna and Russ's relationship for sequences focusing solely on them – a bit of a pity, given that the dog is by far the cutest element of this feel-good picture. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The reason for their separation would feel more adult and realistic with less exposition and fewer direct statements. As it stands, Merv is light and sugary, meeting every expected note. Creating a movie with this canine conflict is not terrible – though it's not exactly a stroke of genius.
- Merv becomes available on the Amazon platform on December 10th.
