It is a widely held belief for numerous people that co-parenting a pet after a breakup is ill-advised. Most will argue such arrangements hinder former couples from finding closure, lead to scheduling chaos, spark arguments, and are a nuisance for everyone involved. Seemingly, as a development suited to a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to the dogs themselves to become depressed.
Not to downplay the inner life of dogs – countless people speak of their deep emotional capacity. To witness a prime example in canine melancholy, simply recall a past film. It seems certain that a dog such as Merv, a spirited little dog brought to life by the canine actor Gus, would have a hard time coping with split households. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom around this situation holds water is rather doubtful.Standard Holiday Fare
Honestly, Merv, crafted by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and directed by playwright Jessica Swale, never aspires to be deeper than its premise. This is a seasonal offering from a corporate studio – the complexity are modest. Its storyline proves to be uncomplicated: a separated couple Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their post-breakup gloom is matched by their dog's, embark on a therapeutic trip to a dog-friendly resort. At this location, predictably, they will surely rediscover the idea that they should reunite. The supporting cast – including familiar faces – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. The film's look carries the feel of a platform's in-house production, with a wintry atmosphere that is obviously artificial – as seen in obvious snow effects clinging to verdant foliage as North Carolina substitutes for the Northeast.
The Canine Charisma
How these predictable parts merge into a pleasant experience rests upon the execution and one's taste for easy entertainment. Regarding the second aspect, Merv targets a specific viewer – the kind who seek out for pet content. The film delivers a series of adorable dog montages. The central draw is the dog, and while this leads to some stilted moments between the pet's "lines" and people's faces, the movie does offer dog beach fun, dog depression, and, ultimately, pure puppy happiness.
The Two-Legged Cast
This level of success does not extend for the human side of the story. The film's approach shifts uneasily between relationship drama, wacky comedy, predictable love story, and silly gags, failing to master a consistent feel. No blame falls on Cox's performance, who is fully game the silliness and cringe required by the dog resort scenario. Cox exhibits a likable self-deprecation that supplies much of the film's charm for this ostensibly perfect couple. Her co-star Deschanel, as is her trademark, imparts a distinctive offbeat energy that will either resonate with viewers. Her Anna seems a touch too detached, notably when contrasted against Cox's vulnerable performance. (For what it's worth, Merv himself is convincing at acting depressed – he may not be the award-winner from Anatomy of a Fall, he is still a very good boy.)
The film attempts to give weight to the couple's history for scenes without their pet – which is unfortunate, since the title character is by far the most adorable aspect of this film designed for charm. As one might predict, it just about gets by. The cause for their original breakup could have been more grounded and mature with less exposition and less blunt explanation. In the end, Merv is light and sugary, meeting all its marks. Making a film with this canine conflict isn't a bad idea – even if it's not exactly a stroke of genius.
- Merv becomes available on the Amazon platform starting December 10.
