This is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that jointly caring for a canine companion after a breakup is ill-advised. Most will argue such arrangements prevent individuals from healing, lead to scheduling chaos, fuel disputes, and are a nuisance across the board. Apparently, and in a twist worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it also makes the dogs themselves to experience sadness.
Without minimizing the inner life of animals – countless people speak of their remarkable empathy. To witness a prime example in canine melancholy, consider recent cinema. There is little doubt that a dog such as Merv, a spirited little dog played 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.Predictable Foundations
Fairness demands noting, Merv, written by its screenwriters and directed by director Swale, doesn't pretend to be more profound than a light film. This is a seasonal offering from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the ambitions is limited. The narrative is destined to be uncomplicated: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their post-breakup gloom is surpassed by their dog's, take a therapeutic trip to a canine-centric retreat. At this location, predictably, they will presumably stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. Side characters – including familiar faces – are crafted as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. The film's look has the quality of a platform's in-house production, with a Christmas setting that is visibly contrived – think fake snow surrounding green trees as a summer location stands in for the Northeast.
The Canine Charisma
Whether these familiar elements coalesce into something enjoyable depends on the strength of the performances and one's taste for comfort viewing. Regarding the second aspect, Merv knows its audience – the kind who browse regularly for dog videos. The film delivers a wealth of adorable dog montages. The main attraction is Merv himself, and even if it causes some clunky cuts between animal action and people's faces, the movie does offer dog beach fun, pet moping, and, ultimately, doggie joy.
The Human Element
Such effectiveness cannot be applied for the human side of the story. The film's approach shifts uneasily between serious study, broad humor, formulaic romance, and outright slapstick, not quite landing a single genre. No blame falls on Charlie Cox, who is admirably committed the humiliating and funny demanded of the unusual premise. His performance contains a likable self-deprecation that provides much of the film's charm for this ostensibly perfect couple. Zooey Deschanel, as is her trademark, imparts a distinctive offbeat energy that will click for some but not others. Her Anna can feel a touch too detached, notably when alongside Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (It should be noted, the canine performer manages acting depressed – he may not be a canine thespian of that caliber, he remains a very good boy.)
The film attempts to add substance to the central romance for moments when the dog is absent – which is unfortunate, considering the dog is undoubtedly the cutest element of this film designed for charm. Unsurprisingly, it just about gets by. The cause for the split might seem more adult and realistic with more screen time and less blunt explanation. Ultimately, Merv is light and sugary, hitting all its marks. Making a film with this canine conflict isn't a bad idea – though it's hardly a great one either.
- Merv becomes available on Amazon Prime Video starting December 10.
