It is a widely held belief for numerous people that jointly caring for a pet post-separation is a terrible idea. Experts frequently claim such setups hinder individuals from healing, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and prove frustrating for all parties. Apparently, and in a twist worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause our furry friends to become depressed.
Without minimizing the inner life of animals – countless people attest to their deep emotional capacity. For a masterclass in dog sorrow, one need only look a past film. I firmly believe that a dog of Merv's nature, a spirited little dog brought to life by Gus the Dog, would find it difficult adapting to split households. The idea of basing an entire Christmas romance around this situation is sustainable seems rather doubtful.Predictable Foundations
Honestly, Merv, the work of the writing duo and helmed by Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be more profound than a light film. It functions as a holiday release from a corporate studio – the depth are modest. The narrative unfolds as uncomplicated: exes Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their individual funk is matched by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a dog-friendly resort. There, inevitably, they will presumably rediscover the idea that they belong with each other. Side characters – featuring a group of comedic actors – fulfill roles quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually has the quality of a branded content, with a wintry atmosphere that is obviously artificial – think flurries surrounding green trees as North Carolina substitutes for a wintery Boston.
The Dog's Domain
Whether these familiar elements coalesce into a pleasant experience hinges on the execution and the viewer's appetite for easy entertainment. On the latter point, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who scroll endlessly for dog videos. The film delivers a series of canine-centric sequences. The primary selling point is the dog, and while this leads to some clunky cuts between animal action and the actors' responses, the movie does offer dog beach fun, dog depression, and, finally, doggie joy.
The Two-Legged Cast
Such effectiveness is not earned for the human side of the story. The tone vacillates between relationship drama, broad humor, predictable love story, and physical comedy, not quite landing any one mode. No blame falls on Charlie Cox, who is admirably committed the humiliating and funny inherent in the unusual premise. He brings a charming humility that supplies a significant portion of the appeal for this seemingly ideal couple. Zooey Deschanel, in her typical fashion, injects a distinctive offbeat energy that will either resonate with viewers. Her portrayal comes across as a little too aloof, particularly when alongside Cox's vulnerable performance. (For what it's worth, Merv himself succeeds in acting depressed – not quite Messi from that acclaimed drama, he is still a very good boy.)
The story strives to provide depth to Anna and Russ's relationship for sequences focusing solely on them – which is unfortunate, since the title character is undoubtedly the cutest element of this cute-aiming movie. Unsurprisingly, it just about gets by. The catalyst for their original breakup might seem more nuanced with more screen time and fewer direct statements. As it stands, Merv is gentle and pleasant, hitting every expected note. Crafting a story about dog co-parenting isn't a bad idea – though I wouldn't call it a stroke of genius.
- Merv becomes available on the Amazon platform this December.
