It is a widely held belief for numerous people that jointly caring for a dog after a breakup is ill-advised. Experts frequently claim such setups impede former couples from healing, cause practical headaches, lead to tension, and prove frustrating across the board. Apparently, as a development fit for a streaming movie, it can even cause the canine in question to experience sadness.
While respecting the mental health of dogs – countless people observe their remarkable empathy. To witness a standout portrayal in dog sorrow, consider a past film. I firmly believe that a dog such as Merv, a spirited little dog brought to life by the canine actor Gus, would struggle coping with split households. The idea of basing a full holiday film on such a setup is sustainable is debatable at best.Standard Holiday Fare
Honestly, Merv, written by its screenwriters and helmed by director Swale, makes no grand claims anything more than what it is. This is a holiday release from a streaming platform giant – the ambitions are modest. Its storyline unfolds as uncomplicated: a separated couple Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their post-breakup gloom is matched by their dog's, take a cheer-up vacation to a luxury pet hotel. At this location, predictably, they will undoubtedly stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. The supporting cast – played by Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. Visually has the quality of a platform's in-house production, with a holiday backdrop that is visibly contrived – as seen in fake snow clinging to verdant foliage as a warm climate doubles as a wintery Boston.
The Dog's Domain
If these predictable parts merge into a pleasant experience rests upon the actors' work and the viewer's appetite for comfort viewing. Regarding the second aspect, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who seek out for dog videos. The film delivers a series of scenes focused on the pet. The main attraction is Merv himself, and even if it causes some clunky cuts between what the dog does and the actors' responses, the movie does offer canine party antics, dog depression, and, finally, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Human Element
Such effectiveness cannot be applied for the human side of the story. The film's approach vacillates between emotional depth, zany antics, standard rom-com beats, and outright slapstick, never fully committing to any one mode. This is not Cox's performance, who is willing to embrace the silliness and cringe inherent in the unusual premise. Cox exhibits a charming humility that provides much of the film's charm for this seemingly ideal couple. Anna's portrayer, as is her trademark, brings a certain millennial quirkiness that will click for some but not others. Her Anna can feel a touch too detached, especially when paired with Cox's vulnerable performance. (On another note, Merv himself is convincing at looking despondent – while no a canine thespian of that caliber, he is still an excellent dog.)
The story strives to give weight to Anna and Russ's relationship for scenes without their pet – a regrettable choice, since the title character is undoubtedly the best part of this feel-good picture. As one might predict, it meets the bare minimum. The cause for the split could have been more grounded and mature with more screen time and less blunt explanation. In the end, Merv is light and sugary, fulfilling every expected note. Crafting a story about dog co-parenting is not terrible – though I wouldn't call it a stroke of genius.
- Merv becomes available on Amazon Prime Video starting December 10.
