It is a widely held belief among many that jointly caring for a dog post-separation is ill-advised. Experts frequently claim such setups hinder individuals from healing, cause practical headaches, spark arguments, and become annoying across the board. Seemingly, in a revelation worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to the canine in question to experience sadness.
Not to downplay the inner life of animals – many owners observe their remarkable empathy. If you need standout portrayal in dog sorrow, simply recall another performance. I firmly believe that a dog such as Merv, a spirited little dog played by a talented dog named Gus, would struggle coping with life in two homes. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom on this conflict works effectively remains a questionable prospect.Standard Holiday Fare
Fairness demands noting, Merv, the work of Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and directed by Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be deeper than its premise. We have here a Christmas movie from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the depth are modest. Its storyline proves to be simple and direct: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, confronting that their own sadness is surpassed by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. At this location, predictably, they will presumably stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. Side characters – including familiar faces – fulfill roles quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually is reminiscent of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is clearly manufactured – exemplified by obvious snow effects surrounding verdant foliage as a warm climate substitutes for a cold December city.
The Canine Charisma
How these standard ingredients come together into something enjoyable hinges on the actors' work and one's taste for comfort viewing. Regarding the second aspect, Merv knows its audience – the kind who seek out for cute animal clips. Audiences receive a plethora of scenes focused on the pet. The primary selling point is the dog, and while this leads to some stilted moments between animal action and people's faces, the movie delivers on dog beach fun, canine sorrow, and, finally, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Two-Legged Cast
This level of success does not extend for the human side of the story. Its style wavers between relationship drama, zany antics, standard rom-com beats, and outright slapstick, not quite landing any one mode. No blame falls on the actor playing Russ, who is admirably committed the humiliating and funny inherent in the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a charming humility that provides a significant portion of the appeal for this ostensibly perfect couple. Zooey Deschanel, true to her usual style, imparts a distinctive offbeat energy that will click for some but not others. Her Anna comes across as a touch too detached, especially when paired with Cox's vulnerable performance. (It should be noted, Gus the Dog succeeds in flopping and whining – while no Messi from that acclaimed drama, he remains a very good boy.)
Merv tries to give weight to the central romance for moments when the dog is absent – a regrettable choice, given that Merv is undoubtedly the best part of this cute-aiming movie. As one might predict, it meets the bare minimum. The reason for the split would feel more nuanced with more screen time and less blunt explanation. As it stands, Merv is gentle and pleasant, hitting all its marks. Crafting a story on this shared-custody premise is not terrible – even if it's not exactly a great one either.
- Merv becomes available on the Amazon platform starting December 10.
