It is a widely held belief in certain circles that jointly caring for a pet following a split is a recipe for trouble. Most will argue such arrangements impede ex-partners from finding closure, lead to scheduling chaos, spark arguments, and prove frustrating across the board. Apparently, in a revelation worthy of a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to the canine in question to become depressed.
Without minimizing the emotional well-being of animals – countless people attest to their profound sensitivity. For a standout portrayal in dog sorrow, simply recall recent cinema. It seems certain that a dog such as Merv, a spirited little dog brought to life by Gus the Dog, would have a hard time coping with split households. The idea of basing an entire Christmas romance on this conflict works effectively seems a questionable prospect.Standard Holiday Fare
Fairness demands noting, Merv, crafted by the writing duo and helmed by playwright Jessica Swale, never aspires to be more profound than its premise. We have here a Christmas movie from a streaming platform giant – the complexity is limited. The plot unfolds as straightforward: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), confronting that their post-breakup gloom is matched by their dog's, decide on a cheer-up vacation to a canine-centric retreat. There, inevitably, they will undoubtedly realize the idea that they are better together. Side characters – played by Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – serve as quirky, thinly written, or broadly comic. The film's look has the quality of a streaming service original, with a holiday backdrop that is visibly contrived – exemplified by fake snow piled on verdant foliage as North Carolina substitutes for the Northeast.
Where the Film Shines
How these familiar elements merge into something enjoyable rests upon the actors' work and the viewer's appetite for comfort viewing. Regarding the second aspect, Merv hones in on a demographic – the kind who seek out for dog videos. The film delivers a plethora of adorable dog montages. The primary selling point is the dog, and even if it causes some stilted moments between what the dog does and human reaction, the movie delivers on canine party antics, pet moping, and, in the end, doggie joy.
The Two-Legged Cast
This level of success cannot be applied for the romantic plot. The film's approach vacillates between relationship drama, wacky comedy, standard rom-com beats, and outright slapstick, failing to master any one mode. The fault lies not with Cox's performance, who is admirably committed the absurd and awkward inherent in the dog resort scenario. Cox exhibits a endearing lack of ego that supplies much of the film's charm for this ostensibly perfect couple. Her co-star Deschanel, true to her usual style, brings a particular brand of eccentricity that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal seems a touch too detached, especially when paired with Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (For what it's worth, the canine performer manages flopping and whining – he may not be Messi from that acclaimed drama, he's definitely a very good boy.)
Merv tries to add substance to the central romance for moments when the dog is absent – a bit of a pity, given that Merv is undoubtedly the most adorable aspect of this film designed for charm. Expectedly, it just about gets by. The catalyst for the split could have been more grounded and mature with less exposition and more subtle storytelling. Ultimately, Merv is light and sugary, hitting all its marks. Crafting a story about dog co-parenting isn't a bad idea – though I wouldn't call it a great one either.
- Merv becomes available on Amazon Prime Video this December.
