It is a widely held belief in certain circles that co-parenting a canine companion post-separation is ill-advised. Most will argue such situations hinder individuals from healing, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and become annoying for everyone involved. As it turns out, in a revelation suited to a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause the dogs themselves to feel down.
Without minimizing the mental health of dogs – many owners speak of their deep emotional capacity. For a masterclass in canine melancholy, consider recent cinema. There is little doubt that a dog of Merv's nature, a scruffy terrier type brought to life by Gus the Dog, would struggle adapting to divided living arrangements. If this concept a full holiday film around this situation holds water is a questionable prospect.A Familiar Formula
Fairness demands noting, Merv, the work of its screenwriters and directed by playwright Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be deeper than a light film. We have here a seasonal offering from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the depth are modest. The narrative unfolds as simple and direct: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their individual funk is matched by their dog's, embark on a cheer-up vacation to a dog-friendly resort. Once there, as expected, they will undoubtedly realize the idea that they should reunite. The supporting cast – including familiar faces – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. The film's look is reminiscent of a branded content, with a Christmas setting that is clearly manufactured – think flurries piled on lush pines as a summer location doubles as a cold December city.
The Canine Charisma
How these familiar elements come together into something enjoyable hinges on the strength of the performances and an acceptance of easy entertainment. Regarding the second aspect, Merv targets a specific viewer – individuals who scroll endlessly for cute animal clips. The film delivers a series of adorable dog montages. The central draw is the dog, and while this leads to some awkward editing between animal action and people's faces, the movie delivers on canine party antics, canine sorrow, and, in the end, doggie joy.
Where It Wobbles
The same praise is not earned for the romantic plot. The tone vacillates between serious study, zany antics, formulaic romance, and silly gags, never fully committing to a single genre. No blame falls on Cox's performance, who is willing to embrace the silliness and cringe required by the dog resort scenario. He brings a endearing lack of ego that supplies a significant portion of the appeal for this ostensibly perfect couple. Zooey Deschanel, as is her trademark, injects a distinctive offbeat energy that will click for some but not others. The character seems a little too aloof, especially when alongside Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (For what it's worth, the canine performer succeeds in acting depressed – not quite a canine thespian of that caliber, he is still a scene-stealer.)
Merv tries to give weight to the couple's history for sequences focusing solely on them – a bit of a pity, considering the dog is by far the most adorable aspect of this film designed for charm. Unsurprisingly, it just about gets by. The cause for the split would feel more nuanced with greater exploration and fewer direct statements. As it stands, Merv is slight and sweet, fulfilling every expected note. Making a film on this shared-custody premise is not terrible – though it's hardly a brilliant concept.
- Merv becomes available on the Amazon platform this December.
