It is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that co-parenting a canine companion post-separation is ill-advised. Most will argue such setups hinder individuals from finding closure, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and become annoying for everyone involved. Apparently, and in a twist fit for a streaming movie, it also makes the canine in question to experience sadness.
While respecting the mental health of animals – countless people speak of their profound sensitivity. For a masterclass in canine melancholy, consider a past film. I firmly believe that a dog of Merv's nature, a scruffy terrier type brought to life by a talented dog named Gus, would find it difficult adjusting to split households. Whether this premise a feature-length romcom on this conflict works effectively remains rather doubtful.Standard Holiday Fare
To its credit, Merv, written by the writing duo and directed by director Swale, never aspires to be deeper than its premise. It functions as a seasonal offering from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the depth remains surface-level. Its storyline is destined to be uncomplicated: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their post-breakup gloom is rivaled only by their dog's, decide on a uplifting getaway to a canine-centric retreat. At this location, predictably, they will surely stumble toward the idea that they belong with each other. Ensemble players – featuring a group of comedic actors – fulfill roles eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Visually has the quality of a branded content, with a holiday backdrop that is clearly manufactured – as seen in obvious snow effects piled on verdant foliage as a warm climate substitutes for a wintery Boston.
The Canine Charisma
Whether these standard ingredients come together into an entertaining watch rests upon the strength of the performances and the viewer's appetite for cinematic comfort food. For the comfort factor, Merv hones in on a demographic – individuals who scroll endlessly for dog videos. The film delivers a plethora of adorable dog montages. The primary selling point is Merv himself, and even if it causes some clunky cuts between the pet's "lines" and human reaction, the movie succeeds in showing walking sequences, dog depression, and, ultimately, pure puppy happiness.
The Human Element
This level of success does not extend for the human side of the story. The film's approach vacillates between emotional depth, wacky comedy, predictable love story, and physical comedy, failing to master a single genre. No blame falls on Charlie Cox, who is fully game the absurd and awkward inherent in the dog resort scenario. He brings a charming humility that provides a significant portion of the appeal for this ostensibly perfect couple. Her co-star Deschanel, as is her trademark, injects a distinctive offbeat energy that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal can feel a little too aloof, notably when contrasted against Cox's vulnerable performance. (On another note, the canine performer manages looking despondent – not quite a canine thespian of that caliber, he's definitely an excellent dog.)
Merv tries to provide depth to the central romance for sequences focusing solely on them – which is unfortunate, considering Merv is by far the cutest element of this feel-good picture. Unsurprisingly, it just about gets by. The cause for their separation could have been more adult and realistic with less exposition and less blunt explanation. As it stands, Merv is slight and sweet, meeting all its marks. Crafting a story with this canine conflict has potential – though it's not exactly a great one either.
- Merv becomes available on the Amazon platform this December.
