This is a common warning for numerous people that co-parenting a canine companion post-separation is ill-advised. Most will argue such situations hinder former couples from moving forward, cause practical headaches, fuel disputes, and are a nuisance across the board. As it turns out, and in a twist suited to a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause the canine in question to feel down.
Without minimizing the mental health of dogs – many owners attest to their profound sensitivity. To witness a prime example in canine melancholy, consider a past film. I firmly believe that a dog like Merv, a spirited little dog portrayed by the canine actor Gus, would struggle coping with split households. The idea of basing a full holiday film on such a setup works effectively remains a questionable prospect.Predictable Foundations
Honestly, Merv, crafted by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and under the guidance of Jessica Swale, never aspires to be anything more than its premise. We have here a holiday release from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the complexity is limited. The narrative proves to be uncomplicated: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their own sadness is surpassed by their dog's, decide on a cheer-up vacation to a canine-centric retreat. At this location, predictably, they will surely rediscover the idea that they belong with each other. Ensemble players – featuring a group of comedic actors – are crafted as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Its aesthetic is reminiscent of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is visibly contrived – exemplified by obvious snow effects clinging to green trees as a warm climate stands in for the Northeast.
The Dog's Domain
How these familiar elements come together into something enjoyable rests upon the execution and one's taste for easy entertainment. For the comfort factor, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who browse regularly for pet content. Audiences receive a wealth of scenes focused on the pet. The primary selling point is the canine star, and while this leads to some clunky cuts between the pet's "lines" and people's faces, the movie does offer dog beach fun, dog depression, and, finally, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Two-Legged Cast
The same praise does not extend for the romantic plot. Its style vacillates between serious study, wacky comedy, formulaic romance, and silly gags, never fully committing to a consistent feel. No blame falls on Cox's performance, who is admirably committed the silliness and cringe inherent in the bizarre setting. Cox exhibits a endearing lack of ego that provides a significant portion of the appeal for this ostensibly perfect couple. Zooey Deschanel, in her typical fashion, injects a particular brand of eccentricity that will click for some but not others. Her Anna comes across as a bit too dry, especially when contrasted against Cox's genuine sadness. (On another note, the canine performer is convincing at acting depressed – not quite Messi from that acclaimed drama, he is still a very good boy.)
The story strives to give weight to Anna and Russ's relationship for sequences focusing solely on them – a regrettable choice, considering the title character is by far the best part of this film designed for charm. Expectedly, it achieves only baseline competence. The reason for the split might seem more adult and realistic with greater exploration and less blunt explanation. As it stands, Merv is slight and sweet, hitting every expected note. Crafting a story with this canine conflict has potential – even if it's hardly a stroke of genius.
- Merv premieres on Amazon Prime Video on December 10th.
