This is a widely held belief for numerous people that jointly caring for a canine companion post-separation is ill-advised. Most will argue such setups impede ex-partners from healing, lead to scheduling chaos, spark arguments, and become annoying across the board. As it turns out, in a revelation worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it also makes the dogs themselves to become depressed.
Without minimizing the emotional well-being of dogs – pet parents attest to their profound sensitivity. For a masterclass in pet despair, consider a past film. I firmly believe that a dog like Merv, a scruffy terrier type played by a talented dog named Gus, would have a hard time adapting to life in two homes. The idea of basing a full holiday film on such a setup is sustainable is rather doubtful.Standard Holiday Fare
Honestly, Merv, written by its screenwriters and directed by Jessica Swale, never aspires to be deeper than what it is. It functions as a holiday release from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the depth remains surface-level. The narrative proves to be uncomplicated: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their post-breakup gloom is surpassed by their dog's, decide on a cheer-up vacation to a canine-centric retreat. There, inevitably, they will presumably stumble toward the idea that they are better together. Side characters – played by a group of comedic actors – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. The film's look is reminiscent of a branded content, with a wintry atmosphere that is obviously artificial – think flurries piled on lush pines as North Carolina doubles as a wintery Boston.
Where the Film Shines
If these standard ingredients merge into a pleasant experience depends on the strength of the performances and an acceptance of comfort viewing. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – individuals who seek out for pet content. It provides a series of canine-centric sequences. The primary selling point is the dog, and even if it causes some stilted moments between the pet's "lines" and human reaction, the movie delivers on walking sequences, dog depression, and, in the end, doggie joy.
The Two-Legged Cast
The same praise is not earned for the human side of the story. Its style shifts uneasily between serious study, wacky comedy, standard rom-com beats, and physical comedy, failing to master a single genre. No blame falls on the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the humiliating and funny demanded of the bizarre setting. Cox exhibits a likable self-deprecation that supplies the bulk of the chemistry for this on-the-rocks couple. Her co-star Deschanel, as is her trademark, imparts a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal seems a bit too dry, notably when alongside Cox's genuine sadness. (It should be noted, Merv himself manages acting depressed – he may not be the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he's definitely a scene-stealer.)
The story strives to give weight to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – a regrettable choice, since the dog is by far the cutest element of this film designed for charm. Unsurprisingly, it just about gets by. The reason for their original breakup might seem more adult and realistic with more screen time and fewer direct statements. In the end, Merv is gentle and pleasant, hitting all its marks. Crafting a story on this shared-custody premise has potential – but I wouldn't call it a great one either.
- Merv becomes available on Amazon Prime Video on December 10th.
