This is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that jointly caring for a pet post-separation is a recipe for trouble. Most will argue such arrangements prevent ex-partners from finding closure, cause practical headaches, fuel disputes, and become annoying for everyone involved. Seemingly, and in a twist fit for a direct-to-platform film, it also makes the canine in question to feel down.
Not to downplay the inner life of our pets – many owners observe their profound sensitivity. If you need standout portrayal in canine melancholy, one need only look another performance. I firmly believe that a dog like Merv, a wired-hair terrier mix played by the canine actor Gus, would struggle adjusting to life in two homes. The idea of basing an entire Christmas romance on this conflict is sustainable remains a questionable prospect.Predictable Foundations
Honestly, Merv, the work of its screenwriters and directed by playwright Jessica Swale, never aspires to be anything more than a light film. We have here a Christmas movie from a corporate studio – the complexity are modest. Its storyline is destined to be simple and direct: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, forced to acknowledge that their post-breakup gloom is matched by their dog's, take a therapeutic trip to a canine-centric retreat. Once there, as expected, they will undoubtedly realize the idea that they belong with each other. Side characters – featuring familiar faces – serve as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Visually is reminiscent of a platform's in-house production, with a wintry atmosphere that is obviously artificial – think fake snow piled on green trees as North Carolina substitutes for the Northeast.
The Dog's Domain
If these standard ingredients merge into something enjoyable hinges on the strength of the performances and one's taste for comfort viewing. For the comfort factor, Merv hones in on a demographic – those people who scroll endlessly for dog videos. The film delivers a plethora of scenes focused on the pet. The central draw is the dog, and even if it causes some stilted moments between what the dog does and people's faces, the movie delivers on canine party antics, pet moping, and, in the end, pure puppy happiness.
Where It Wobbles
The same praise does not extend for the romantic plot. The film's approach vacillates between serious study, broad humor, standard rom-com beats, and outright slapstick, not quite landing a single genre. No blame falls on the actor playing Russ, who is fully game the humiliating and funny required by the dog resort scenario. He brings a likable self-deprecation that provides a significant portion of the appeal for this on-the-rocks couple. Her co-star Deschanel, in her typical fashion, imparts a certain millennial quirkiness that will either resonate with viewers. Her Anna can feel a little too aloof, especially when alongside Cox's genuine sadness. (It should be noted, Gus the Dog is convincing at flopping and whining – not quite Messi from that acclaimed drama, he is still a scene-stealer.)
Merv tries to give weight to the central romance for sequences focusing solely on them – which is unfortunate, given that the dog is easily the most adorable aspect of this film designed for charm. As one might predict, it achieves only baseline competence. The cause for their original breakup might seem more adult and realistic with more screen time and less blunt explanation. In the end, Merv is slight and sweet, hitting precisely what you anticipate. Crafting a story with this canine conflict has potential – even if it's hardly a stroke of genius.
- Merv streams on the Amazon platform on December 10th.
