This is a common warning among many that jointly caring for a pet post-separation is ill-advised. The consensus suggests such setups prevent individuals from healing, cause practical headaches, fuel disputes, and become annoying for all parties. Apparently, as a development suited to a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to the dogs themselves to become depressed.
While respecting the inner life of our pets – many owners speak of their profound sensitivity. For a prime example in dog sorrow, simply recall a past film. There is little doubt that a dog such as Merv, a scruffy terrier type brought to life by Gus the Dog, would have a hard time adapting to life in two homes. If this concept an entire Christmas romance around this situation works effectively remains a questionable prospect.Standard Holiday Fare
Fairness demands noting, Merv, the work of Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and directed by director Swale, doesn't pretend to be anything more than what it is. We have here a Christmas movie from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the ambitions are modest. The plot is destined to be simple and direct: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their own sadness is rivaled only by their dog's, take a uplifting getaway to a luxury pet hotel. Once there, as expected, they will undoubtedly realize the idea that they should reunite. Side characters – featuring a group of comedic actors – are crafted as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Its aesthetic has the quality of a branded content, with a Christmas setting that is obviously artificial – exemplified by fake snow clinging to green trees as a warm climate substitutes for a cold December city.
The Dog's Domain
How these familiar elements coalesce into a pleasant experience rests upon the execution and an acceptance of easy entertainment. Regarding the second aspect, Merv knows its audience – those people who browse regularly for pet content. It provides a wealth of canine-centric sequences. The primary selling point is the dog, and though it results in some clunky cuts between what the dog does and the actors' responses, the movie succeeds in showing dog beach fun, dog depression, and, finally, a tail-wagging resolution.
Where It Wobbles
Such effectiveness is not earned for the interpersonal drama. The tone wavers between serious study, broad humor, predictable love story, and silly gags, never fully committing to a consistent feel. This is not Charlie Cox, who is willing to embrace the absurd and awkward demanded of the dog resort scenario. His performance contains a likable self-deprecation that provides much of the film's charm for this ostensibly perfect couple. Her co-star Deschanel, in her typical fashion, brings a certain millennial quirkiness that will click for some but not others. Her Anna seems a touch too detached, notably when alongside Cox's genuine sadness. (On another note, Merv himself is convincing at flopping and whining – while no a canine thespian of that caliber, he's definitely an excellent dog.)
Merv tries to provide depth to the couple's history for moments when the dog is absent – a bit of a pity, given that Merv is by far the cutest element of this film designed for charm. Expectedly, it achieves only baseline competence. The reason for their separation could have been more nuanced with greater exploration and more subtle storytelling. Ultimately, Merv is slight and sweet, meeting every expected note. Making a film about dog co-parenting isn't a bad idea – though I wouldn't call it a brilliant concept.
- Merv becomes available on the Amazon platform this December.
